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second Edition
Fundamentals of Python:
First Programs
Kenneth A. Lambert
Martin Osborne,
Contributing Author
Copyright 2019 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. WCN 02-200-203
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Fundamentals of Python: © 2019, 2012 Cengage
First Programs, Second Edition
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copy-
Kenneth A. Lambert
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CHAPTER 1 I n t ro du ct io n����������������������������������������������� 1
Two Fundamental Ideas of Computer Science:
Algorithms and Information Processing ������������������������������ 2
Algorithms ������������������������������������������������������������������� 2
Information Processing��������������������������������������������������� 4
Exercises ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 5
The Structure of a Modern Computer System������������������������ 6
Computer Hardware ������������������������������������������������������� 6
Computer Software ������������������������������������������������������� 7
Exercises ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 9
A Not-So-Brief History of Computing Systems������������������������ 9
Before Electronic Digital Computers��������������������������������11
The First Electronic Digital Computers (1940–1950) ���������13
The First Programming Languages (1950–1965) ��������������14
Integrated Circuits, Interaction,
and Timesharing (1965–1975)��������������������������������������16
Personal Computing and Networks (1975–1990) ��������������17
Consultation, Communication,
and E-Commerce (1990–2000)��������������������������������������19
Mobile Applications and Ubiquitous
Computing (2000–present) ������������������������������������������21
Getting Started with Python Programming ���������������������������22
Running Code in the Interactive Shell ������������������������������22
Input, Processing, and Output�����������������������������������������24
Editing, Saving, and Running a Script ������������������������������27
Behind the Scenes: How Python Works�����������������������������28
Exercises �����������������������������������������������������������������������29
Detecting and Correcting Syntax Errors������������������������������29
Exercises �����������������������������������������������������������������������30
Suggestions for Further Reading ���������������������������������������30
Summary �����������������������������������������������������������������������31
Copyright 2019 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. WCN 02-200-203
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Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
contents
CHAPTER 2 S o f t w are D
evelo pment, Data Ty pes,
iv an d Expres s io n s��������������������������������������� 34
The Software Development Process �����������������������������������35
Exercises �����������������������������������������������������������������������37
Case Study: Income Tax Calculator ������������������������������������38
Strings, Assignment, and Comments�����������������������������������41
Data Types ������������������������������������������������������������������41
String Literals��������������������������������������������������������������42
Escape Sequences��������������������������������������������������������43
String Concatenation�����������������������������������������������������43
Variables and the Assignment Statement��������������������������44
Program Comments and Docstrings ��������������������������������45
Exercises �����������������������������������������������������������������������46
Numeric Data Types and Character Sets �����������������������������47
Integers�����������������������������������������������������������������������47
Floating-Point Numbers��������������������������������������������������47
Character Sets ������������������������������������������������������������48
Exercises �����������������������������������������������������������������������49
Expressions��������������������������������������������������������������������49
Arithmetic Expressions��������������������������������������������������50
Mixed-Mode Arithmetic and Type Conversions��������������������52
Exercises �����������������������������������������������������������������������53
Using Functions and Modules ��������������������������������������������54
Calling Functions: Arguments and Return Values ���������������54
The math Module ���������������������������������������������������������55
The Main Module�����������������������������������������������������������56
Program Format and Structure ���������������������������������������57
Running a Script from a Terminal Command Prompt�����������57
Exercises �����������������������������������������������������������������������59
Summary �����������������������������������������������������������������������59
Review Questions ������������������������������������������������������������61
Projects��������������������������������������������������������������������������62
Lifetime�������������������������������������������������������������������� 192
Using Keywords for Default and Optional Arguments�������� 193
Exercises �������������������������������������������������������������������� 194
Higher-Order Functions�������������������������������������������������� 195
Functions as First-Class Data Objects��������������������������� 195
viii Mapping�������������������������������������������������������������������� 196
Filtering�������������������������������������������������������������������� 197
Reducing ����������������������������������������������������������������� 197
Using lambda to Create Anonymous Functions �������������� 198
Creating Jump Tables�������������������������������������������������� 199
Exercises �������������������������������������������������������������������� 199
Summary �������������������������������������������������������������������� 200
Review Questions ��������������������������������������������������������� 202
Projects����������������������������������������������������������������������� 203
“Everyone should learn how to code.” That’s my favorite quote from Suzanne Keen, the
Thomas Broadus Professor of English and Dean of the College at Washington and Lee Uni-
versity, where I have taught computer science for more than 30 years. The quote also states
the reason why I wrote the first edition of Fundamentals of Python: First Programs, and why
I now offer you this second edition. The book is intended for an introductory course in pro-
gramming and problem solving. It covers the material taught in a typical Computer Science 1
course (CS1) at the undergraduate or high school level.
This book covers five major aspects of computing:
1. Programming Basics—Data types, control structures, algorithm development, and
program design with functions are basic ideas that you need to master in order to
solve problems with computers. This book examines these core topics in detail and
gives you practice employing your understanding of them to solve a wide range of
problems.
2. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)—Object-oriented programming is the
dominant programming paradigm used to develop large software systems. This
book introduces you to the fundamental principles of OOP and enables you to
apply them successfully.
3. Data and Information Processing—Most useful programs rely on data structures
to solve problems. These data structures include strings, arrays, files, lists, and dic-
tionaries. This book introduces you to these commonly used data structures and
includes examples that illustrate criteria for selecting the appropriate data struc-
tures for given problems.
4. Software Development Life Cycle—Rather than isolate software development
techniques in one or two chapters, this book deals with them throughout in the
context of numerous case studies. Among other things, you’ll learn that coding a
program is often not the most difficult or challenging aspect of problem solving
and software development.
5. Contemporary Applications of Computing—The best way to learn about pro-
gramming and problem solving is to create interesting programs with real-world
applications. In this book, you’ll begin by creating applications that involve numeri-
cal problems and text processing. For example, you’ll learn the basics of encryption
techniques such as those that are used to make your credit card number and other
information secure on the Internet. But unlike many other introductory texts, this
Copyright 2019 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. WCN 02-200-203
Copyright 2019 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Discovering Diverse Content Through
Random Scribd Documents
to make something out of your life—like Ted Mackay. There was no
more time to be wasted.
"Promise me you'll go," begged Ralph, leaning over eagerly and
putting his hand on her arm.
Instinctively she drew it away, but before she could answer, Louise
and Maurice appeared from a cross-path that was hidden by tall
bushes.
"Why, there's my little Lindy!" cried Maurice, though Linda was
several inches taller than he was. "Grieving for papa?"
"Shedding tears," laughed Linda. But the words made her think of
her own father, and she grew sober. Suppose he were home now—
waiting for her! He never stayed more than a day; how she would
hate to miss him!
"Has anybody found the treasure yet?" she inquired.
"I've found two treasures," replied Maurice complacently, looking
first at Louise and then at Linda.
"Forget it!" commanded Louise, tersely, lifting her head. She, like
Linda, was tall, but in that the resemblance ended. Her dark, sleek
hair was short and almost straight, and she wore earrings—even in
swimming. She said she felt undressed without them—"practically
immodest," were her exact words.
"No, but really—?" persisted Linda.
A wild shout from Dot Crowley, followed by a chorus of "Whoopee!"
from half a dozen others, answered Linda's question immediately.
Dot always was lucky. The others ran to the spot where the crowd
was gathered, and Dot, a tiny, vivacious blonde, who could take
child's parts in the amateur plays, was holding two boxes of golf
balls triumphantly up to view.
"Do I have to give one box to that lazy kid?" she demanded, pointing
scornfully at her long-legged partner, Jim Valier, who had been
languidly following her around. At the time when she had discovered
the prize, he was lolling under a tree, resting his "weary bones," as
he said, smoking a cigarette.
"Sure you do!" he drawled. "Didn't I supply the brains to our
combine?"
"Brains!" repeated Dot. "Where did you get 'em? I'll have to have
you arrested for stealing 'em, if that's the case! But here—take your
box!"
"Couldn't possibly," he said, waving them aside with his cigarette
holder. "Besides, I hardly ever play golf. Too fatiguing."
"How about your school-girl figure?" asked Maurice. "Aren't you
afraid if you don't exercise, you'll lose it?"
Everybody, even Linda, laughed, for Jim Valier was about the world's
thinnest youth.
"He's really afraid somebody will mistake him for a golf-stick, and
bang a ball with him," remarked Ralph.
In groups, and some in pairs, the whole crowd went back to the
lake. After all that exercise and excitement, everybody wanted
another dip to cool off. It was six o'clock by the time they all piled
into their cars, and half-past when Linda reached home.
Hoping to find her father, as she had been hoping every day that
week, she dashed up the steps quickly, merely waving good-by to
her companions as the sports car shot from the driveway. And then,
miraculously, she saw his beloved face at the door!
"Daddy!" she cried rapturously, rushing breathlessly into his arms.
He was taller than Linda, with a straight, lithe figure like that of a
much younger man. His hair was dark, with just a little gray at the
temples, and his skin deeply tanned from his out-door life. A sort of
habitual smile played about his lips, as if he had made up his mind
to find life pleasant, no matter what came.
"My dear little girl!" he said, quietly, patting her hair. "Will you
forgive me for coming a day too late? Your Aunt Emily tells me that
both Commencement and class-day are over—and you are an old
Grad now!"
"Yes, but I don't mind, Daddy, so long as you came today!" she
replied, squeezing his hand. "Maybe it's better this way, because I've
been so rushed lately that I wouldn't have had much time to see
you."
"You must tell me all about everything," he said, drawing her arm
through his, and leading her down the steps of the porch. Of course
he thought he meant what he said, but Linda knew from experience
that if she did tell him, he wouldn't be listening. A dreamy
expression so often came into his eyes when she chattered, and she
would wonder what he was thinking of. Strange lands—or his ranch
out west—or perhaps her mother?
"Where are we going?" she asked. "I really ought to dress for dinner,
Daddy. You know what picnics are."
"Yes, To be sure. But I want to show you your graduation present."
"My present?" There was excitement in her tone; it was sure to be
something wonderful—and unusual. All the girls were wild with envy
when Kitty Clavering received a real pearl necklace from her father.
All—except Linda. She had no desire for pearls, or for any jewelry,
for that matter. She had known that her father's present would be
much more thrilling. At least—if he didn't forget!
"You didn't think your old Dad would forget you, did you, Honey?"
he asked.
"No—no—of course not.... But, Daddy, where is it? Why are we
going out back of the house?"
"We have to walk over to our big field across the creek," he
explained, mysteriously.
"The big field? Why?... That's a hot walk, Daddy. No shade at all! If
you want a nice walk, we ought to go in the other direction, down
towards the orchard, where there are some trees."
"Trees are the one thing we don't want," he replied, solemnly.
"You're going to hate trees, after you get my present, daughter."
"Hate—trees?" Linda's eyes were traveling all over the landscape,
scanning it in vain for a clew. And then, as they mounted a slight
incline, the thing came into sight. The marvelous, wonderful present!
Too good to be true! Her heart stopped beating, her legs shook. She
clutched at her father for support.
A beautiful, shining airplane! A superb Arrow Sport! The very kind
she had been reading about, had been longing some day to possess!
And even a hangar, to keep it in safety!
"Daddy!" she gasped, hoarsely.
He was watching her face, rapturously.
"You like it?"
"Oh!" she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck, and suddenly
bursting into tears. "How could you know that I wanted it so much?"
He patted her hair, a little embarrassed by her emotion.
"I just tried to imagine what I would want most if I were your age....
You know, dear, you're your father's own girl! You look like your
mother, but you're much more like me.... A strange mixture...." He
was talking more to himself now, for Linda was almost running,
pulling him along excitedly. "Feminine beauty—with masculine
ambition...."
But Linda was not listening. She had reached the plane now, and
was walking around it, enthralled. Touching its smooth surface, to
make sure that it was not only a dream. Dashing back to hug her
father, and then climbing into the cockpit, to examine the controls,
the instruments, the upholstery. If she lived to be a hundred years
old, no other moment could hold greater happiness than this!
Her father smiled softly in satisfaction. He wanted her to have all the
happiness that he had somehow missed. Money couldn't buy it for
him; but money spent for his daughter could bring it to him in the
only possible way now.
"You're not a bit afraid?" he asked, though he knew from her shining
eyes that his question was unnecessary.
"Dad!"
"And now the question is, who can teach you to fly? Unfortunately,
the man who brought it here for me couldn't stay, even to explain
things to you—although of course there is a booklet. But I
understand there's an air school here at Spring City...."
"Yes! Yes!" she interrupted. "I've been there—been up with one of
the instructors. Can we drive over for him tonight?"
"My dear, you can't take a lesson at night," he reminded her. "You
know that."
"Oh, of course not!" she agreed, laughing at her own folly. "But
tomorrow?"
"Yes, certainly. At least we can see about it. You have to pass a
physical examination first, I understand."
"And I want to take the regular commercial pilot's course, Daddy! I
want to go to the bottom, and learn all about planes, and flying. May
I?"
"I don't see why not.... You needn't stop for the expense."
Linda blushed; she hadn't been thinking of the expense—she never
did. But perhaps she ought to now, for the plane must have cost a
lot of money. At the present, however, something else was worrying
her.
"It was the time I was thinking of," she admitted. "Aunt Emily wants
to go away in a week or so. And oh, Dad, I just couldn't bear to
leave this!" There were actually tears in her eyes.
"Of course not, dear. Well, we'll see if we can't compromise with
your aunt. Stay at home the rest of June and July, be content with a
private pilot's license for the present, and then go away in your
plane in August. Wouldn't that suit you?"
"To the ground—I mean to the skies!" corrected the happy girl.
"And now we must get back to dinner," he reminded her. "Aunt
Emily's waiting."
Solemnly, tenderly, as a mother might kiss her baby, Linda leaned
over and kissed the beautiful plane. Then giving her hand to her
father, she walked back to the house with him in silence, knowing
that now her greatest dream was fulfilled.
Chapter IV
Summer Plans
Early the next morning, Linda wakened her father and hurried him
through his breakfast. There wasn't a moment to be lost, she told
him excitedly, like a child waiting to open her Christmas stocking.
She had her car under the portico before he had finished his second
cup of coffee.
"Don't drive so fast that you are killed on the way," cautioned her
aunt. "Remember, dear, you have the rest of your life to fly that
plane!"
But the present moment is the only time of importance to young
people, and Linda scarcely took in what she was saying. Besides, the
caution was unnecessary; unlike Dot Crowley and Maurice Stetson,
she had too much respect for her car to mistreat it by careless
driving. Linda loved her roadster as a cavalry general loves his horse.
"You want to do most of your learning on your own plane, don't you,
daughter?" asked her father, as he sat down beside her. "I mean—
you'd rather bring your instructor back with us, and fly it, wouldn't
you?"
"Of course, if that is possible. But don't you suppose I have to go in
a class with others, Daddy?"
"Probably not—for it is a small school. Besides, I can arrange for you
to have private lessons. It will hurry things up for you."
"Oh, thank you, Daddy!... But later, I want to go to a regular ground
school, if you will let me." Her tone was as eager as any boy's,
starting out on his life work. "And study airplane construction, and
wireless—and—and——"
He smiled at her approvingly. What a girl!
"You are ambitious, my dear," he said, but there was pride in his
words. "I don't see why not, though.... Only, not all at once. As your
Aunt Emily reminded you, you have the rest of your life."
"I can't bear to fool!" she exclaimed, impatiently. "Now that I have
graduated, I want to get somewhere."
"You're bound to—unless you fly in circles," he remarked, lightly.
"I mean—oh, you know what I mean, Daddy! And you do
understand, don't you?"
"Well, not exactly. You don't expect to be one of those independent
girls who insist upon earning their own living, do you, dear?"
"I don't know...." Somehow, she couldn't explain. Nobody
understood just what she wanted except Ted Mackay, and that was
because he had the same sort of goal himself. Ted Mackay! The
memory of her father's command hurt her. Must she really give up
his friendship? But why? She wanted to ask her father, but he was
looking off in the distance, apparently lost in his own thoughts.
So she drove the remainder of the way in silence, absorbed by her
own dreams.
The field was outside of Spring City, covering an area of thirty acres,
and surrounded by the white fence that was now being used so
much by airports. Three large hangars, containing probably half a
dozen planes, occupied one side of the field, and, near the entrance
was a large building, evidently used as an office and school for the
theoretical part of the courses.
"You have been here before, Linda?" asked her father, as the girl
locked her car.
"Yes—a couple of times. I feel almost at home."
Scarcely were they inside the grounds, when Ted Mackay, looking
huge and handsome in his flyer's suit, came out of the office
building. He recognized Linda at once, and his blue eyes lighted up
in a smile of welcome. Since he wore his helmet, his red hair was
not visible, and Linda, glancing apprehensively at her father, knew
that the latter had no idea who Ted was. But, nervous as she was
over the meeting that was about to take place, she could not help
feeling proud of Ted, and warmed by the frankness of his happy
smile.
"Linda!" he cried. (She had called him Ted the second time she met
him, so he reciprocated.) "I owe you an apology—and a confession!"
"Yes?" replied Linda, glancing fearfully at her father, though she
knew that he had not yet realized who the young man was, or his
expression would not have been so beneficent. "But first I want you
to meet my father," she said. "Dad—this is Ted Mackay."
She was vexed at herself that she was actually stammering. Acting
just like a child! Yet she couldn't forget how stern her father could
be. She recalled the day that, as a child, she had sneaked off and
played with Louise when her chum had whooping cough. Her father
happened to come home—and announced that he would take care
of her punishment. And what a punishment! For three whole weeks
he made her stay in the house, without a single companion except
her Aunt Emily! He said he'd teach her to obey.
But he wasn't storming, or even frowning now. Merely looking
politely indifferent, perhaps a trifle superior. He made no motion to
shake hands with Ted.
"How do you do?" he said. "Would you be kind enough to take us to
the man in charge of this field?"
"Certainly, sir," replied Ted.
Immediately, as if he intended to give the young people no chance
for personal conversation, Mr. Carlton began to ask about the
courses that were offered.
Ted answered his questions, explaining that Miss Carlton would
probably want to become a private pilot at first.
"You have to pass a physical examination," he said, "and get a
permit from the Government. Then you must have at least eighteen
hours of flying experience—ten with someone else with you, eight of
solo flying. There is a written examination, too—all about the rules
and regulations that make up the laws of the air. Of course there
isn't a lot of traffic, like with the driving of cars," he explained,
smilingly, "but you'd be surprised at how many rules there are!"
They had been crossing the field while he talked, and they stopped
now at the main building. With a nod of dismissal that was curt, and
yet not quite rude, for a muttered, "Thank you," accompanied it, Mr.
Carlton left Ted, and took his daughter inside.
A middle-aged man, dressed in a khaki shirt and breeches, was
seated at a desk. He looked up as they entered.
"My name is Carlton," began Linda's father, "and this is my daughter.
I have bought her a plane, and I have come over to arrange about
some lessons in flying."
Lieutenant Kingsberry, a former Army officer, asked them to be
seated, and went over about the same explanation that Ted had
given, saying that he would be delighted to register Linda, provided
that she passed the physical examination.
"I suppose it is not so unusual now to have girls as students?"
inquired Mr. Carlton.
"Not for many of the schools," replied the lieutenant. "But it just
happens that we so far have not enrolled any of the fair sex. Your
daughter will be the first. When does she wish to start?"
"As soon as possible," replied Mr. Carlton.
"Now!" Linda could not help adding.
"Well, I don't see why not," agreed the lieutenant, leniently. "At least
Miss Carlton could take the physical examination, because one of our
doctors is here now. And if she passes that, Mackay can give her the
first lesson."
Linda's expression of delight suddenly died on her lips. For she
glanced at her father, and saw the queer, drawn look about his
mouth at the mention of Ted's name.
"This—Mackay—" he said slowly, "he isn't your only instructor?"
"He is our best."
"I prefer someone else. Can you arrange it?"
"Why—I suppose so. But if it is only personal reasons, I think you
are making a mistake, Mr. Carlton. Mackay is our most reliable flyer
—by far our best instructor. We don't expect to have him here more
than a month or so. He's had a good offer from a big company."
Linda was glancing shyly, pleadingly, at her father, but he did not
even see her.
"Unfortunately I found this young man's father to be most unreliable
—untrustworthy—during the period that I employed him on my
ranch. The fact is, we are not yet through with the trouble that he
started. So you can understand why I should refuse to trust my
daughter to his son. It is an unpleasant but true fact that children
inherit their father's weaknesses. I should not have a comfortable
minute, being miles away, and knowing that she was in his hands."
"Of coarse I will accept your decision, Mr. Carlton," replied
Lieutenant Kingsberry, "and see that your wishes are carried out. I
will summon the second ranking instructor—H. B. Taylor."
He called his office boy, a young man learning to fly, and working his
way at the same time, and gave the necessary message. A couple of
minutes later the man came in, dressed like Ted, but somehow he
seemed insignificant to Linda—as if he were the one who was not
reliable. She sighed.
Her father remained with the lieutenant and the instructor while she
went into the doctor's office for her physical examination. She knew
that her eyesight was good, but she felt a little nervous when the
doctor examined her heart. It was fluttering so! Suppose all the
excitement had been too much for her—and she did not pass! What
good would her lovely plane be to her, if she were never allowed to
pilot it herself?
But she need not have been alarmed, for she came through with
flying colors. Then young Taylor took her over to one of the planes,
and began to explain about the joystick, the rudder, the ailerons,
and everything else he could think of, in words of one syllable.
Linda glanced at him, frowning. Did he think she was a baby. Or was
it because she was a girl that his manner seemed so superior, so
condescending? Why, he was wasting a lot of time! Ted would have
had her up in the air by this time, perhaps letting her guide the
plane herself.
"I am familiar with all these terms, Mr. Taylor," she interrupted. "You
see I have been up twice—with Mr. Mackay. And I've read a couple
of books."
The young man regarded her haughtily.
"It is necessary, Miss Carlton, that you go through the regular
lessons, regardless of what you knew beforehand," he answered
coldly. "And whatever Mr. Mackay may have shown you—as a friend
—has nothing to do with these lessons, so long as I, not he, am your
instructor."
"But I want to go up today!" she protested, eagerly.
"It is not our custom to take students up on the first day, Miss
Carlton.... Now, have you a notebook and pencil?"
"In my car." She tried to answer naturally, but she was keenly
disappointed.
"Then will you please go and get them," he said, seating himself in
the cockpit of the plane which he had been using to illustrate his
statements.
Obediently, but half-heartedly, Linda started back for the road where
her car was parked. She had gone about half-way when she came
upon her father, accompanied by Ralph Clavering, dressed like
herself, in his riding outfit.
"Hello, Linda!" he cried. "Passed your physical exam, didn't you?"
"Oh, yes," she answered. "So you're really going to learn, too?"
"I most certainly am. And your father has consented to let us take
our lessons together. Won't that be fun?"
"Linda," interrupted her father, as he saw her start away, "where are
you going? I want to tell you something."
"Yes, Daddy?" A wild hope surged in her heart that perhaps he had
changed his mind about Ted. It wasn't only that she had taken a
dislike to H. B. Taylor—it was rather that she had not confidence in
him as a teacher. He might be all right as a pilot, but instructing
others was a different matter. And he would never really feel any
personal interest in her progress, or understand her, like Ted. His
attitude almost said that he thought it was silly of girls to want to
fly!
But she ought to have known her father better than to think he
would change his mind.
"I should like to take your car and go home now, if you don't mind,"
he said, "because I have some work to do today that is urgent—
some people to see about business. And Mr. Clavering has very
kindly offered to drive you home. Is that all right? I know you don't
like other people to run your car——"
"Oh, Daddy, you're different," she said, forcing a smile. "Of course I
don't mind your driving it.... But I'm sorry you can't wait for us."
Promising to meet Ralph in a couple of minutes, she walked out to
the entrance of the field with her father.
"I need not tell you, dear," he said, "that my decision about Mackay
is final. And I want you to have as little to do with him as possible,
while you are here. It's for your own good, daughter. I can see that
girls might find the young man attractive. But it is well to steer clear
of such people. Have all the fun you like with your own friends."
"Yes, Daddy," she managed to reply.
"I guess young Clavering will see to it that your time at home, after
most of the others go away for the summer, is not dull. And if you
pass your course and get your license, you can fly your plane to
Green Falls. I will make arrangements about a place to keep it. I
dare say they have maps at the school."
"Yes—and thank you so much—for everything, Daddy," she said. She
mustn't let him see that she was disappointed, after all he had done
for her! He might be right about Ted—but she didn't think so.
Whatever Ted's father might be, she felt sure that Ted was one of
the finest young Americans that she had ever known.
Securing her notebook, and handing over her keys to her father, she
hurried back to the field, and finished her lesson with Ralph at her
side. As they walked out together, she looked about shyly for Ted. It
wouldn't do any harm for her just to speak to him; after all he did
want to tell her something. At last she spotted him, across the field
beside one of the planes—in overalls and jumper now, his red hair
brilliant in the sunlight.
"Do you know I believe that's the fellow we chased last night!"
exclaimed Ralph. "Do you know him?"
"Yes, I've met him. He took me up a couple of times."
"You know him? Then why was he sneaking around so funny last
night? Why didn't he come over and speak to you?"
"He's shy," replied Linda, jumping to the only conclusion that
seemed feasible, and her explanation must have been correct, for
Ted never looked up from his work as the young couple passed.
Chapter VI
Winning Her License
The next few weeks were the most interesting, the most exciting, of
Linda's whole life. Every day she drove over to the Flying School with
Ralph, and gained first her theoretical, and then her practical
knowledge.
Both she and Ralph were surprised to find that it was so simple a
matter to handle a plane. By the middle of July they were
accustomed to stepping into the cockpits by themselves, nosing their
planes into the wind, and rising to a height of fifteen hundred feet,
without even a tremor. Anxiously they counted their hours of solo
flying, not only that their licenses would be approved, but because
they both wanted to try some stunts. They had studied the
principles of loops, Immelman turns, barrel rolls, and falling leaves,
and they were wild to try them out for themselves.
Finally, after they had both passed their written examinations, and
were only waiting for their licenses to come through, Mr. Taylor
allowed them both to try an inside loop and an Immelman turn.
Linda's happiness was so great that she felt she just had to tell
somebody, so she went home and wrote to her father. Unfortunately,
she thought it wiser to say nothing about stunts to her aunt.
Miss Carlton still insisted that she would never get into a plane, not
even Linda's. "It's too dangerous," she objected, when her niece was
begging her to go for a ride. "I might be killed—and then who would
take care of you? And besides, I don't see how anybody could learn
to fly in the short time you've been at it."
"But Aunt Emily," explained Linda patiently, "it really is easier than
driving a car. Once you are off the ground, the plane practically flies
itself. And the higher you are, the safer."
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