“Neither I did! How came I to forget that! We must go right back and tell him.”
When they reached the barn again, they saw Hiram at the foot of the hill, just entering the next field; but hearing the girls shouting, “Hiram! Hiram!” and seeing them running to overtake him, he strode back across the fence, and seated himself on the top rail to wait for them.
“I forgot a most important thing,” said Marty, panting for breath. “Mamma says honorary members may attend the meetings.”
“Maybe I hadn't better attend them,” said Hiram with a quizzical look. “I might want to vote.”
“Oh, do you think you should?” asked Marty anxiously.
Hiram bit off a piece of straw and chewed it, slowly moving his head from side to side, appearing to meditate profoundly, while the little girls waited in suspense.
“Well,” he said, after he had apparently thought the matter over, “I suppose I can hold up from voting; and I reckon you can count on me to come.”
And come he did, the very next Sunday, appearing to take great interest in the proceedings.