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"I suppose he is," said Valerie, mastering a retort with some difficulty, "but . . . the truth is that I want to be alone. I want whole days alone. Do you understand, Mr. Featherstone?"

"Yes," said the other.

"I can only really be alone, without scaring father, if he thinks you are taking me some place . . . the theatre or . . . or the museum."

"I should never take you there," protested Jimmy, and the exasperated girl sighed wearily.

"What I mean is this, and I will be very plain: I want you to come for me tomorrow and take me out. And then I want you to leave me and let me take the car where I wish. You can say that you are taking me out for the day. On the river——"

"Rather late for the river," murmured her companion.

"Well . . . some place. Somewhere that will keep me out all day. Daddy is leaving for Scotland on Wednesday night——"

"What you want me to do is to pretend to take you out and leave you to your own devices?"

She sighed again.

"How clever you are. Yes, that is just what I want you to do."