Change On Rustum II

"To Promote the General Welfare."

"[Daniel Coffin's] place had felt too big and hollow, and at the same time too full of ghosts." (p. 119)

However, when his eldest granddaughter and her family have moved in with him:

"Again the house resounded to joyous voices..." (p. 120)

We the readers have not heard that house resound. This must have happened during the period of "A Fair Exchange" and between instalments. Several additional stories could have been inserted into the fictional chronology at that point.

The extent to which Daniel and those other Rustumites who can tolerate a denser atmosphere have civilized and domesticated their part of the lowlands, which still have a frontier, is shown by the contents of his private room:

"...big desk, big leather armchair, walls lined with books..." (p. 121)

That book publishing has become an early luxury industry is an achievement for this isolated colony. 

The hostile lowland elements can be kept out of doors:

"The panes were full of rain, wind hooted, lightning flared, thunder made drumfire which shuddered in the walls." (ibid.)

And they still punctuate conversation. When Daniel stands motionless after receiving an urgent phone call:

"Lightning glared, thunder exploded, rain dashed against the glass." (p. 125)

Finally for now, time can still be compared to the wind when reflecting on age:

"...these days time went like the wind..." (p. 123)