Katharine did not seem so much at ease as she had done when she played hostess to the Ethels at Fort Edward. She was accustomed to meeting many people, but she was an only child and being plunged into a big family, all chattering at once, it seemed to her, caused her some embarrassment. In an effort not to show it she was not always happy in her remarks.
"Is this your car?" she asked.
"It's Grandmother Emerson's," replied Ethel Brown. "She lets us have it very often."
"I don't care for a touring car in cold weather. My grandmother has a limousine."
"We're glad to have a ride in any kind of car," responded Ethel Blue happily.
"Roger, get out that other rug for Katharine," directed Mrs. Morton, "she's chilly."
"Oh, no," demurred Katharine, now ashamed at having made a remark that seemed to reflect upon the comfort of her friends' automobile. "I'm used to a Ford, any way."
"I'm afraid you don't know much about cars if you do come from an automobile city," commented Roger dryly. "This car would make about three Fords—though I don't sneeze at a Ford myself. I'd be mighty glad if we had one, wouldn't you, Mother?"
Mrs. Morton shook her head at him, and he subsided, humming merrily,
He took four spools and an old tin can
And called it a Ford and the strange thing ran.