CHAPTER IX
MONA AT HOME
When they reached home it was really after dark, and Patty was prepared for an expected reproof. But Mr. Fairfield came out smilingly to meet them.
“Accident No. 1?” he asked. “What was it? Power gave out, punctured tire, or misjudged distance?”
“None of those,” cried Patty, gaily; “but it was a real accident, and a real unavoidable and unforeseeable one!”
“Oh, of course!” chaffed her father; “accidents are always unavoidable, and never the fault of the person driving!”
“I’m glad you’ve learned that,” said Patty, saucily, “for, if you have that theory firmly fixed in your mind, you have learned the main principle of motor adventures!”
And then the three sat down on the veranda, and Patty and Nan detailed the whole experience to Mr. Fairfield.
“You were certainly in no way to blame, Patty,” he said, heartily, “for, of course, you’ve had no experience with sand, and had no reason to suspect that the wheels would sink. But you’ve learned the lesson, and now that particular trouble is not likely to occur again, for you will remember to stick to the hard roads.”
“But, you see, the particular trouble was really the cow, and, of course, she’s likely to occur again at any time.”