ance of some apprehension.

"You're not repenting your rash trust of me already, are you?" he
demanded.

"I'm remembering that Martha has four guests at luncheon to-day, and
expects me to be there!"

"Is that all? Don't let that worry you. We'll simply have a breakdown
somewhere on the road conveniently near to a spot I know, where I
can broil the beefsteak I have in that hamper, and make the coffee.
'Unavoidable detention' will be your apology."

"'Irresistible temptation' will be my confession," she admitted. "I'm
not good at subterfuge and I'm so hungry that the mere mention of
beefsteak out-of-doors--"

"If it weighs against the plates and salads of a woman's luncheon I
shall have a great respect for you. Come on, let's run away! You from
social duties, I from professional ones. I'll agree to stand out Martha
in your defense. Unless, of course, the opportunity to wear a pretty
frock and throw all the other women in the shade--"

She laughed. "That's precisely what Martha wants me to do!"

"Then fail her and let the other women win. It's too late to repent,
anyhow, for here's where we turn off."

The Imp itself seemed to be running away, so swiftly and silently
it covered the new road leading off into the hills. Presently it was
climbing them.

"I want to get where no call-boy monotonously repeating 'Doc-tor
Bur-rns, Doc-tor Bur-rns', can get hold of me," the Imp's driver
explained. "I suppose you're not dressed--nor shod--for a rough walk of
a quarter of a mile where the car can't go?"

"I'll sacrifice skirts and soles," she promised. "Isn't the air out here
glorious? I thought I was tired when I left the city: now I could climb
that hill and enjoy it."

"That's precisely what we'll do, then. There's a view from the top worth
the scramble, but I wasn't sure you'd be game for it. Perhaps I'll know
you better at the end of this afternoon than I do now. Is there a jolly,
athletic girl hidden away under that demure manner of yours I've seen so
far, I wonder?"

"Lead the way up that hill and you'll find out," she answered with a
challenging flash of her dark eyes.

He lodged the Imp among a clump of pines, got out the hamper and turned
to his companion. She had pulled off her gloves, removed hat and veil
and folded her long, gray coat away in the car. This left her dressed in
the trim gray skirt of walking length and the gray silk blouse she had
worn for shopping. Burns looked at her with approval.

"T