side of the road, mingled their branches over the centre,
affording a delightful shade. It was needed, too, in a measure, for the
sun, creeping higher and higher in the blue sky, was sending down beams
of heat, as well as light. There was gentle wind, which was accentuated
by the motion of the machines.

"Is it hard to learn to drive a car?" asked Eline, as Bess and Belle
combined in telling Mrs. Fordam something of the excitement of the
previous night, she not having arrived until it was over.

"It is, my dear, at first," Cora explained. "Then it all seems to come
to you at once. Why you'd never believe it, but first I used to imagine
I was going to hit everything on the road. I gave objects such a wide
berth that everyone laughed at me. But I did not want to take chances.
Now watch!"

She speeded up a little, and turning to one side seemed to be headed
straight for a tree.

"Oh!" screamed Eline, and Bess and Belle echoed the cry.

"There!" cried Cora, as she skillfully passed it, far enough off for
safety, as even the most careful motorist would admit, but near enough
to make an amateur nervous. "You see what it is to have confidence,"
she added to Eline.

"Yes," was the somewhat doubtful comment.

"Cora, dear, I wouldn't take those risks if I were you," rebuked her
Cousin Mary, gently.

"Oh, it wasn't a risk at all! I had perfect control. I just wanted to show
Eline what practice will do. I am going to teach her to drive."

"I'll never learn!" was the nervous protest.

The road narrowed about a mile farther on, but before the cars lengthened
out into single file again, Belle asked:

"Where are we to lunch, Cora?"

"I planned on stopping at Mooreville. There is a nice, home-like
restaurant there. We'll be in Churchton soon, and we can stop there and
'phone in to have a meal ready for a party of nine."

"That would be a good idea."

Churchton was soon reached, and Jack found he had a puncture. While he
stopped to put a new inner tube into service Cora got the restaurant on
the wire and made arrangements.

"Now will you please be good?" Jack begged of his car, when the tire had
been pumped up again. "This is a bad beginning for you, old _Get There_."

"If it makes good you can tack on another title when we're in Chelton
again," suggested Ed.

"What?"

"Call it _Get There and Back_."

"I believe I will!" laughed Jack. "Sorry to delay you," he said to the
others, for they waited for him after Cor