"Oh, oh, yes," he managed. "I've got a big job, Helen. I'm not a clock puncher, you know. I can take whatever time I like."
"That's good," said Helen.
She was not one to squander words. He knew she meant something. "Why?" he asked.
"Because if you couldn't get off easily I'd have to take my car back."
"No kidding? How's that? What happened?"
"Hubert is going to business down in the city now and I've given him the Oakland for commuting. He doesn't like the trains. That leaves me all day without a car."
"So the kid's going to work, eh? That's great. I'll have to make him a little present. What could I get him?"
Helen regarded him for a moment without speaking; then she said, "I can use the taxis for getting back and forth from the village, but I want the car for shopping in the city and going up to Stamford to see Wilma Lawrence. So long as you can get off easily, though, I'll just phone the office when I need the car and you can bring it up. If you'll give me the number and do that I'll be able to let you keep the car."
"Well, you can't get me at the office often because I'm in and out all the time. I'll phone you instead."
"Why phone me? Just bring the car when you have a feeling that I'm going to need it."
"No, here's what I meant. I'll phone you every night around nine or ten o'clock that I'm away and you can
