Once more she mechanically went through
the motions of starting the car, then she stepped down, closed
the door, and stood an instant thinking.
"You're four years behind the times," she said slowly. "No doubt
there's a newer and a better model; I suspect the tires are
rotten, but the last day I drove you for Daddy you purred like a
kitten, and ran like a clock, and if you were cleaned and oiled
and put in proper shape, there's no reason in the world why I
should not drive you again, as I have driven you hundreds of
miles when Daddy was tired or when he wanted to teach me the
rules of good motoring, and the laws of the road. I can do it
all right. I have got to do it, but it will be some time before
I'll care to tackle the mountains."
Leaving the cover on the floor, she locked the door and returned
to the kitchen.
"All right, Katy, what is the programme?" she inquired as lightly
as she could.
Katy had been cook in the Strong family ever since they had
moved to Lilac Valley. She had obeyed Mrs. Strong and Eileen.
She had worshiped the Doctor and Linda It always had been patent
to her eyes that Mrs. Strong was extremely partial to Eileen, so
Katy had joined forces with the Doctor in surreptitiously doing
everything her warm Irish heart prompted to prevent Linda from
feeling neglected. Her quick eyes saw the traces of tears on
Linda's face, and she instantly knew that the trip the girl had
made to the garage was in some way connected with some belongings
of her father's, so she said: "I am serving tonight but I want
you to keep things smoking hot and to have them dished up ready
for me so that everything will go smoothly.
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