pologetic than explanatory.

"No; I hain't. I counted on being home before noon. My man has a job in
the brickyard at Italee, and we'd been there now if the train hadn't
stopped. I was up to Leidy a-buryin' my mother," she added, as though she
expected that Elizabeth might blame her for being on the train at all.

Landis and Min had gone back to their seats. Hearing this bit of
conversation, Landis turned her head to look at Elizabeth and her friend.
Judging from her expression, she had no sympathy with a girl like
Elizabeth who could hob-nob on a train with a common-looking person like
this woman.

Landis turned back to her companion, who had opened a small leather
lunch-case and was spreading out napkins on the seat before her. The
napkins were of heavy linen with drawnwork borders. The drinking-cup was
silver. The lunch was in harmony with its service. There were quantities
of dainty sandwiches, olives and pickles, fruits, the choicest bits of
roast chicken, slices of meat-loaf, and several varieties of cake and
confections. The sight of it was quite enough to make one's mouth water.

The lady back of them had also opened her lunch. She, too, had heard the
conversation between Elizabeth and the woman with the babies. Arising with
her lunch in her hand, and a traveling cape over her arm, she came over to
where Elizabeth stood with the baby.

"The trainmen tell me we shall have an hour to wait," she said, addressing
them. "I see a pretty little bit of grass out here, not far from the car.
There is shade, too. Don't you think it would be pleasant to sit out there
and eat our lunch together? It would be rest from the close car."

Undoubtedly she was one whose suggestions were followed, as she expected
them to be now. Before she had ceased speaking she had the boy in her
arms, and was on the way to the door. The mother and Elizabeth with the
baby followed.

A narrow green bank lay between the railroad and the creek. A large forest
oak stood there, making the one bit of shade within sight. The woman, with
the boy in her arms, hurried to this. Spreading out her traveling cape,
she put him down upon it, and immediately taking a sandwich from her
lunch, placed it in his hands. His cries ceased. He fell to munching the
sandwich, at intervals giving expression to his enjoyment.

Elizabeth trudged after with the baby. She had never carried such a burden
before, and was surprised to find how heavy the frail little child wa