“Arch,” she called again.
No movement followed.
“Pull on the reins, Helen,” suggested Aunt Kate.
“Mother, how many times must I tell you that to pull on the reins is no way to start a horse. A logical minded animal would expect you to push on the lines when you want him to stop, and that wouldn’t do at all.” That mischievous giggle came again and Helen gave the horse a smart tap with the whip.
The lazy steed flinched slightly and moved slowly forward.
“Don’t be cruel, Helen, and keep in the gutter.”
“Mother, there are no automobiles out at this time of night. For once, when we have company, we should drive in the middle of the road. As we pay taxes, we have a right there,” argued Helen. “I am getting curvature of the spine from driving with one wheel in the gutter.”
“It is so much safer, Helen. Archimedes can’t get out of the way quickly.”
“Why should he? Let the automobiles make room for us once. Are we frightened chickens to flee from them?”
“It makes the people in the machines so cross, Helen. They say such unkind things.”