``You are home early,'' said Mr. Langham, as Alice stood above
him pulling at her gloves. ``I thought you said you were going
on to some dance.''

``I was tired,'' his daughter answered.

``Well, when I'm out,'' commented Hope, ``I won't come home at
eleven o'clock. Alice always was a quitter.''

``A what?'' asked the older sister.

``Tell us what you had for dinner,'' said Hope. ``I know it
isn't nice to ask,'' she added, hastily, ``but I always like to
know.''

``I don't remember,'' Miss Langham answered, smiling at her
father, ``except that he was very much sunburned and had most
perplexing eyes.''

``Oh, of course,'' assented Hope, ``I suppose you mean by that
that you talked with some man all through dinner. Well, I think
there is a time for everything.''

``Father,'' interrupted Miss Langham, ``do you know many
engineers--I mean do you come in contact with them through
the railroads and mines you have an interest in? I am rather
curious about them,'' she said, lightly. ``They seem to be a
most picturesque lot of young men.''