d been forbiden to do so, owing to having upset it
while taking his Grandmother Gray for an airing, and was not to drive
again until she could walk without cruches.

"Won't your people let you take out a car?" he asked. "Every girl ought
to know how to drive, in case of war or the CHAUFFEUR leaving----"

"----or taking a Grandmother for an airing!" I said coldly. Because I
did not care to be criticized when engaged only a few hours.

However, after we had parted with mutual Protestations, I felt the
desire that every engaged person of the Femanine Sex always feels,
to apear perfect to the one she is engaged to. I therfore considered
whether to ask Smith to teach me to drive one of our cars or to purchace
one of my own, and be responsable to no one if muddy, or arrested for
speeding, or any other Vicissatude.

On the next day Jane and I looked at automobiles, starting with ones I
could not aford so as to clear the air, as Jane said. At last we found
one I could aford. Also its lining matched my costume, being tan. It was
but six hundred dollars, having been more but turned in by a lady after
three hundred miles because she was of the kind that never learns to
drive but loses its head during an emergency and forgets how to stop,
even though a Human Life be in its path.

The Salesman said that he could tell at a glanse that I was not that
sort, being calm in danger and not likly to chase a chicken into a fense
corner and murder it, as some do when excited.

Jane and I consulted, for buying a car is a serious matter and not to
be done lightly, especialy when one has not consulted one's Familey and
knows not where to keep the car when purchaced. It is not like a dog,
which I have once or twice kept in a clandestine manner in the Garage,
because of flees in the house.

"The trouble is," Jane said, "that if you don't take it some one will,
and you will have to get one that costs more."

True indeed, I reflected, with my Check Book in my hand.

Ah, would that some power had whispered in my ear "No. By purchacing
the above car you are endangering that which lies near to your Heart and
Mind. Be warned in time."

But no sign came. No warning hand was outstretched to put my Check Book
back in my pocket book. I wrote the Check and sealed my doom.

How weak is human nature! It is terrable to remember the rapture of that
moment, and compare it with my condition now, with no Allowence, with
my faith gone and my heart in fra