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           Oh,thatgloriousandenchantedfirstweek—themagicalafternoonsofgoldenlight,hummingthroughtheshadytownonadreaming,timelessriver,seatedstiffly,smilingatpassingacquaintances,sedatelypurringouttheirwrinkledclawsateveryturn,squeezingahoarsecryfromtheblackrubberhornatintersections,sometimeslettingDouglasorTomSpauldingoranyoftheotherboyswhotrotted,chatting,alongside,hitchalittleride.Fifteenslowandpleasurablemilesanhourtopspeed.Theycameandwentthroughthesummersunlightandshadow,theirfacesfreckledandstainedbypassingtrees,goingandcominglikeanancient,wheeledvision.

           "Andthen,"whisperedFern,"thisafternoon!Oh,thisafternoon!"

           "Itwasanaccident."

           "Butweranaway,andthat’scriminal!"

           Thisnoon.Thesmelloftheleathercushionsundertheirbodies,thegrayperfumesmelloftheirownsachetstrailingbackastheymovedintheirsilentGreenMachinethroughthesmall,languoroustown.

           Ithappenedquickly.Rollingsoftontothesidewalkatnoon,becausethestreetswereblisteringandfiery,andtheonlyshadewasunderthelawntrees,theyhadglidedtoablindcomer,bulbingtheirthroatyhorn.Suddenly,likeajack-in-the-box,MisterQuartermainhadtotteredfromnowhere!

           "Lookout!"screamedMissFern.

           "Lookout!"screamedMissRoberta.

           "Lookout!"criedMisterQuartermain.

           Thetwowomengrabbedeachotherinsteadofthesteeringstick.

           Therewasaterriblethud.