The family—husband, wife, and three little children were at dinner, as I said.
“What’s been happening to-day? anything of interest?” asked the little wife.
“Not that I know of,” was the gruff reply.
Silence, broken by the occasional sound of eating implements, ensued.
“Pass the bread, will you?” he said in a short tone, directly.
“See how you like this bread; we are trying the entire wheat flour. I think it’s very nice tasting, and they claim it’s rich in nutrition. It’s warranted to make blood, bone, and muscle—brain, too, I believe. I’m going to eat several pounds a day; I may astonish the world yet.”
This feeble joke was received in stolid silence, and the poor little wife crept into her shell.
After a time she peeped out again, and made another effort.
“I went to the womans’ club this afternoon; Mrs. Pierson invited me. They had a very interesting meeting; they brought up the subject of smoke consumers. I never realized before how much property is ruined yearly by the smoke. It does seem as if manufacturers ought to use consumers.”
At this point Bruin openly yawned, and the little wife again retired. But with astonishing elasticity of courage she issued from her shell once more, this time with the hope that a more masculine theme would meet with some response.