officious," I said by way
of a parting shot.

"Old Nick will run away with you for being so ungrateful," he returned.

"Old Nick will have me anyhow," I thought to myself as I drove home amid
the shadows. The hum of the cicadas was still, and dozens of rabbits,
tempted out by the cool of the twilight, scuttled across my path and hid
in the ferns.

I wished the harness had not broken, as I feared it would put a clincher
on my being allowed out driving alone in future.

Joe Slocombe, the man who acted as groom and rouseabout, was waiting for
me at the entrance gate.

"I'm glad you come at last, Miss Sybyller. The missus has been in a
dreadful stoo for fear something had happened yuz. She's been runnin' in
an' out like a gurrl on the look-out fer her lover, and was torkin' of
sendin' me after yuz, but she went to her tea soon as she see the buggy
come in sight. I'll put all the parcels on the back veranda, and yuz can
go in at woncest or yuz'll be late fer yer tea."

"Joe, the harness broke and had to be tied up. That is what kept me so
late," I explained.

"The harness broke!" he exclaimed. "How the doose is that! Broke here in
the trace, and that strap! Well, I'll be hanged! I thought them straps
couldn't break only onder a tremenjous strain. The boss is so dashed
partickler too. I believe he'll sool me off the place; and I looked at
that harness only yesterday. I can't make out how it come to break so
simple. The boss will rise the devil of a shine, and say you might have
been killed."

This put a different complexion on things. I knew Joe Slocombe could mend
the harness with little trouble, as it was because he was what uncle
Jay-Jay termed a "handy divil" at saddlery that he was retained at
Caddagat. I said carelessly:

"If you mend the harness at once, Joe, uncle Julius need not be bothered
about it. As it happened, there is no harm done, and I won't mention the
matter."

"Thank you, miss," he said eagerly. "I'll mend it at once."

Now that I had that piece of business so luckily disposed of, I did not
feel the least nervous about meeting grannie. I took the mail in my arms
and entered the dining-room, chirping pleasantly:

"Grannie, I'm such a good mail-boy. I have heaps of letters, and did not
forget one of your commissions."

"I don't want to hear that now," she said, drawing her dear old mouth into
a straight line, which told me I was not going to palm things off as
easily as I thought. "I want