You ought to have worn a linen duster over it on the train." At this even Hiram showed keen amusement, and Mrs.Ranger herself joined in the laugh.

"Well, it was a good, sensible fashion, anyhow," said she.
Instead of hurrying through dinner to get back to his work with the one o'clock whistle, Hiram Ranger lingered on, much to the astonishment of his family.

When the faint sound of the whistles of the distant factories was borne to them through the open windows, Mrs.Ranger cried, "You'll be late, father." "I'm in no hurry to-day," said Ranger, rousing from the seeming abstraction in which he passed most of his time with his assembled family.

After dinner he seated himself on the front porch.

Adelaide came up behind and put her arm round his neck.