d, they passed on to the
deer ranges.

Here were all sorts of deer, and the gentle, timid-eyed creatures came
tamely to the railings or nettings and made friends with the visitors.

"It would be fun to feed them," said Mr. Maynard, "but it's strictly
forbidden, so we can only talk to them, and hope that they understand.
And now, my infants, the sun is travelling homeward, and I think we'll
take our next lesson from him. Would you rather have some sandwiches and
ice-cream now, or wait until you get home, to refresh yourselves?"

"Now, now, now!" chorused the whole party.

"Do you know, I thought you'd say that," said Mr. Maynard. "So suppose
we go into this pleasant-looking tea-room, and have a social hour."

"This makes twice for ice-cream, to-day," observed Kitty, as she
lovingly ate her favorite dainty. "And do we have it to-night for
dinner, Mother?"

"Of course. Always on an Ourday night."

"Oh, how lovely! Three times in one day."

"Kitty," said her mother, smiling, "I believe your highest ambition is
ice-cream."

"Yes, it is," said Kitty, complacently; "or else huckleberry pie."

After the ice-cream, there was the trip home. But the children were not
tired, and enjoyed thoroughly the ride, which was more of a treat to
them than to their parents.

The Subway was fun, the ferryboat ride a delight, and after they were in
the train on the New Jersey side, they coaxed the conductor to turn two
seats to face each other. Then the quartette occupied these, and
chattered gaily over the events of the day.

"Isn't it lovely," said Marjorie, as they at last entered their own
front door, "to think we've had such a good time, and yet Ourday isn't
over yet?"

"I know it," said Kitty. "And 'tis specially lovely for me, 'cause I can
stay up to dinner, and dress up, and everything."

Ourdays always wound up with an extra good dinner, and a touch of gala
costume in honor of the occasion. Then after dinner the evening was
devoted to games or stories or fun of some sort, in which Mr. Maynard
was the ringleader. Other evenings he was not to be disturbed, unless he
chose, but Ourday evenings he belonged to the children, and willingly
did whatever they asked him to.

But at nine o'clock the Ourday was over, and the children trooped off to
bed, invariably repeating the same old story, "Now this has _really_
been the very best Ourday we _ever_ had!"

CHAPTER XVII

A SUBSTITUTE GUEST

Thanksgiving Day came la