“Fall out and break your collar-bone. He'll be all attention,” advised Chester.
“Thank you. I'm almost tempted to. Why don't you drive awhile, Mr. Macauley, and give him a rest?”
“And let him sit here in the middle with you? He couldn't be pried loose from that wheel now. Besides, I haven't driven this car yet, and she's too different in her steering from my old one. I shouldn't like to try with this crowd behind me.”
They reached the distant city; drew up at the steps of the most attractive hotel; went in to lunch. That is to say, all did this except R. P. Burns. He remained in the garage in the rear where he had taken the car, busying himself with some details of mechanism whose working did not quite suit him. In spite of summons and appeals he continued to work until the rest had finished; then he bolted in to wash off dust and engine grease, ate his lunch in ten minutes—Macauley sitting by and expostulating—and bolted out again.
“We're going to walk about a bit,” Chester announced, invading the garage. “The girls insist that you come. Where are your eyes, man? If Pauline bores you—I admit that she's a trifle persistent, but she's jolly good company, I think—try Mrs. Lessing. She's delightful, and not the pursuing style at all—she's learned better. She hasn't shown the slightest interest in you all morning. That ought to attract you.”
“I'm going to try a bit of adjustment on this timer now that Mac's out of the way. Go along, and don't bother me.” Burns was in his shirt-sleeves again and spoke gruffly. His cap was off, and thick locks lay damply against his moist brow; in his eyes sparkled enthusiasm but not for women.
“You certainly are a hopeless case,” and Chester went back to his party.
“We might as well not have a bachelor along,” mourned Pauline. “Four women—with only two old married men to look after them—it's a shame.”
“But we're both of us much handsomer than Red Pepper Burns,” asserted James Macauley, Junior. “And I've hardly spoken a word to my wife since I started—that sort of thing ought to content you.”
“It doesn't. And neither of you is half as good-looking as Doctor Burns. He has the most interesting profile I ever saw—and I ought to know—I seldom catch sight of his full face.”