Rebecca had just taken a hot plate from her pan, but she paused ere setting it down, alarmed at Phœbe's temerity.
"Don't you dast to dream o' sech a thing, Phœbe!" she cried, with frightened earnestness.
But Phœbe was confident, and crossed the threshold with a little laugh.
"Why, Rebecca, what you scared of?" she said. "It's just as easy as that—see!"
She pulled the starting lever.
The next instant found her flying out into the middle of the main room following Droop, the table, and all the movable furniture. In the kitchen there was a wild scream and a crash of crockery as Rebecca was thrown against the rear partition.
Phœbe had pulled the lever the wrong way and the Panchronicon was swiftly reaching full speed.
"Heavens and airth!" cried Rebecca.
"Whatever in gracious—" began the dismayed Phœbe.
She broke off in renewed terror as she found herself pushed by an irresistible force to the side of the room.