Part 7 (1/2)
”Don't!” he said harshly. ”This morning I had forgotten what you were.”
”I wish I could,” she said forlornly. ”We won't talk about it any more.
Play I am pink perfect until we get to this 'first lady of the land' up at Top Hill. Oh, but motoring in the dawn is s.h.i.+very! I loathe early morning when you get up to it. If you _stay up_ for it, it's different.”
He looked down at her quickly.
In the crisp morning air, her little figure was shaking as if with a chill. Her face was very white, and there was a bluish look about her mouth.
He stopped the car suddenly.
She smiled faintly at his look of concern.
”I'm all right,” she said rea.s.suringly, a spark of raillery again showing in her eyes before they closed, and she fell limply against him.
When she had recovered the consciousness she had lost but momentarily, he was vigorously rubbing her hands.
”How warm and strong your hands feel,” she said with a little sigh of content. ”I never did anything so out of date before. I couldn't help it.”
”You are nearly frozen,” he said brusquely. ”Why don't you wear more clothes?”
”I am wearing all I have,” she said plaintively, with an attempt at a giggle.
A sudden recollection came to him. From under the seat he brought forth a heavy, gray sweater.
”I forgot I had this with me. Put it on.”
”It's a slip-on. I'll have to take off my hat and coat to get into it.”
When she removed her soft, shabby, battered hat which she had worn well down over her eyes even while she slept, her hair, rippling bronze and golden lights, fell about her face and shoulders in semi-curls.
He helped her into the sweater.
”It's sure snug and warm,” she said approvingly, as her head came out of the opening. ”I won't need my coat.”
”No; there's no warmth in it,” he said, looking disdainfully at the thin, cheap garment. ”Throw it away.”
”With pleasure,” she replied gaily. ”Here's to my winter garment of repentance.”
She flung the coat out on the road.
”What did you say?” he asked perplexedly.
”Nothing original. Just some words I st-t--I mean, borrowed.”
She fastened back her hair and picked up her hat.
”Don't put that on!” he exclaimed, making another search under the seat and bringing forth a soft cap. She set it jauntily on her curls.
”How do you feel now? Well enough to ride on?”