He was talking to the engine driver, of course, and if she had not known better she might have thought that they were old friends.

Jon looked round.

"Hello," he said vaguely. "Where have you been?"

Penny looked at him with pity.

"And just suppose that man with the car has gone while you've been gossiping with engine drivers. I don't see how he would know that that's the sort of thing you do when you get to a place where you're being met! He'd have to be jolly clever to know that, wouldn't he? I bet he's gone home and told Auntie we're not on the train... That's my case by the door marked Buffet. Do you mind carrying it for me because I'm tired out waiting for you?"

Jon picked it up without another word. He was still looking a little embarrassed!

They toiled up the steps and were crossing the bridge before he spoke again.

"Funny old thing, wasn't she? What did you think of her, Penny?"

"I tell you what was peculiar, Jon, and that was the way she tried to get rid of us when we got here. She was friendly enough nearly all the way, but didn't seem to want us to come out of the station with her... Oh, well! Why worry? Here we are, and I hope the car is waiting."

But it was not. There were only three cars waiting in the sun-drenched station yard and they were obviously taxis.

"What did I tell you, Jon? He's gone. He couldn't wait. He didn't know about you and engine drivers. What a pity!"

"All right. You said all that before several times. You go and ask any of those chaps if they're Fred Vasson and I'll go and telephone Mother and see if he's left."

"The great brain at work," she said, as she sauntered over to the waiting taxis. She asked the two older drivers if they were Fred Vasson and they shook their heads. Penny went back to find Jon. He was waiting for her at the door of a telephone kiosk.

Penny squeezed into the box with him and shut the door. Jon got out his mother's letter again to find the number. Just as Mrs. Warrender answered the telephone, Jon felt Penny nudge him violently in the back and hissed, "Jon, Jon! Look quickly!" but there was not room for him to turn and he had to strain to hear his mother's voice.

"-Sensible of you to 'phone, darlings," she was saying. "You are at Hastings station, are you?... Fred's on his way now, but the car wouldn't start. He should be there in ten minutes... Are you both all right?... Longing to see you, Jon... My love to Penny. 'Bye."

Before he could replace the receiver, Penny forced the door open and dragged him outside.

"Did you see her?" she gasped. "Quick, Jon! I want to know where they're going."