Elihu was incredulous, because in Newbern gasoline was until now something that women cleaned white gloves with.

But when the tank was replenished the car came again to life, throbbing buoyantly.
"I'll be switched!" said Sharon.
A day later he was telling that his new car had broke down on him, but Buck Cowan had taken her all apart and found out the trouble in no time, and put her gizzard and lights and liver back as good as new.

And Buck Cowan himself came to feel quite unjustifiably a creator's pride in the car.

It was only his due that Sharon should let him operate it; perhaps natural that Sharon should prefer him to.

Sharon himself was never to become an accomplished chauffeur.