Mary came up to her and again squeezed her hands affectionately. "You must never cry in this house, my dear," she said. "It's the only form of dissipation that Mark won't allow."
* * * * * * * * *
It was exactly two and a half hours later when Colin, straightening himself with a grunt, turned triumphantly to the pessimistic Davis.
"I think we've fixed her this time," he observed, wiping his hands on his dungaree trousers. "It will be nice to be able to push along at a reasonable pace without feeling that something's going to give."
The other lifted up the front seat and thrust away the spanner which he had been holding in his hand.
"It didn't seem to make much difference," he replied, "not judgin' by the way you started off this afternoon. I was half expectin' you and that young lady to come back on a couple of stretchers."
"Oh, we got along all right," said Colin. "Miss Seymour enjoyed the drive very much indeed."
"Did she?" was the somewhat incredulous answer. "Well, I reckon if she knew the state that steering gear was in she must be hard up for a bit of excitement."
Colin laughed, and, stripping off his overalls, stuffed them away into an open locker.
"You had better let me have the key," he said. "I don't suppose I shall be back till about eleven. I have promised to go down to Shadwell for supper, only I must slip round to the hospital and tidy myself up first."