Theirearmarksareallgood。We’venosuchnotionshereastheyhave。“
“ThankGodforsomuch，atanyrate，“saidmother。“HowoldEnglandwouldriseupandexultifshehadamaninlinewithLaddie’sbody，bloodandbrain，tosetonherthrone。Thistalkaboutclassandsocialpositionmakesmesick。Menaremen，andLaddieisasmuchabovethecustomarytimberfoundinkingsandprinces，physicallyandmentally，astheskyisabovetheearth。
Talkmenotalkaboutclass！IfIcatchitcomingfromanyofmine，saveyou，Iwillbeatitoutofthem。Hehasadmittedhe’sinlovewiththegirl；therealquestionis，whethershe’sfittobehiswife。“
“Ishouldsaysheappearsso，“saidfather。
“Dratappearances！“criedmother。“Whenit’saquestionoflifetimemisery，andthesoul’ssalvationofmyson，ifthingsgowrong，I’venotimeforappearances。Iwanttoknow！“
Hemighthaveknownhewouldmakeherangrywhenhelaughed。Shepunchedthepillow，andwouldn’tsayanotherword；soIwenttosleep，anddidn’tmissanythingthattime。
NextmorningatbreakfastLaddiewasbeaming，andfatherhardlywaitedtoasktheblessingbeforeheinquired：“Well，howdidyoumakeit，son？“
Laddielaughedandanswered：“Altogether，itmighthavebeenmuchworse。“
ThatwasallhewouldsayuntilMissAmeliastartedtoschool，thenhetookmeonhislapandtalkedashebuttonedmycoat。
“Thomasmetmeatthegate，“hesaid，“andheldmyhorsewhileI
wenttothedoor。Oneoftheirwomenopenedit，andIinquiredforMr。Pryor。Shesaidhewasinthefieldlookingatthehorses，soIaskedforMissPryor。Shecameinaminute，soI
gaveherthebranch，toldheraboutit，andofferedthejellyandcakeforhermother。ThePrincessinvitedmetoenter。ItoldherIcouldn’twithoutherfather’spermission，soIwenttothefieldtoseehim。Thedogswerewithhimandhehadthesurpriseofhislifewhenhisman-eatersrolledatmyfeet，andlickedmyhands。“
“Whatdidhesay？“chuckledfather。
“ToldThomasthey’dbeenoverfedanddidn’tamounttoabrassfarthing；totakethemtothewoodsandshootthem。Thomassaidhe’dseetoittheveryfirstthinginthemorning，andthenMr。
Pryortoldhimhewouldshoothimifhedid。“
“Charmingmantoworkfor，“saidmother。
“ThenItoldhimI’dbeenatthehousetocarryalittlegifttohiswifeanddaughter，andtoinquireifImightvisitanhour，andashewasnotthere，Ihadcometothefieldtoaskhim。
ThenIlookedhimintheeyeandsaid：`MayI？’
“`I’llwarrantthewomenaskedyoutocomein，’hesaid。
“`MissPryorwassokind，’Ianswered，`butIenternoman’shousewithouthispermission。MayItalkwithyourdaughteranhour，andyourwife，ifshecarestoseeme？’
“`Itmakesnoearthlydifferencetome，’hesaid，whichwasnotgracious，butmighthavebeenworse，soIthankedhim，andwentbacktothehouse。WhenIknockedthesecondtime，thePrincesscame，andItoldherthewordwasthatitmade`nodifferencetoherfather’ifIcamein，sosheopenedthedoorwidely，tookmyhatandofferedmeaseat。Thenshewenttothenextroomandsaid：`Mother，fatherhasgivenMr。Stantonpermissiontopayusacall。Doyoufeelabletomeethim？’Shecameatonce，offeringherhandandsaying：`IhavealreadymetMr。Stantonsooften，really，weshouldhavetheprivilegeofspeaking。’“
“Whatdidshemeanbythat？“askedmother。
“ShemeantthatIhavehauntedtheroadpassingtheirplacefortwoyears，andshe’dseenmesofrequentlythatshecametorecognizeme。“
“Umph！“saidmother。
“Laddietellon！“Ibegged。
“Well，IsharpenedallthewitsIhadandwenttowork。Inevertriedsohardinmylifetobeentertaining。OfcourseIhadtofeelmyway。I’dnoideawhatwouldinterestadelicate，high-
bredlady“——mothersniffedagain——“soIhadtosearchandprobe，andgobyguessuntilIsawashadeofinterest，thenIworkedinmoreofthesame。ItwaseasyenoughtotalktothePrincess——
allyoungfolkshavealotincommon，wecouldgetalongonfiftytopics；itwasdifferentwiththehouseboundmother。Ididmybest，andafterawhileMr。Pryorcamein。Iaskedhimifanyofhishorseshadbeenattackedwiththetroublesomeoftheneighbourswerehaving，andtoldhimwhatitwas。Hehadthegracetothankme。HesaidhewouldtellThomasnottotiehishorseatthepublichitchingrackwhenhewenttotown，andoncehegotstarted，hewaswildtotalkwithaman，andI’dnochancetosayawordtothewomen。Hewasinterestedinourcolleges，state，andnationallaws，inlanddevelopment，andeverythingthatalllivemenare。WhenamaidannounceddinnerIapologizedforhavingstayedsolong，andexcusedmyself，becauseIhadbeensointerested，butMrs。Pryormerelysaid：`I’mwaitingtobeofferedyourarm。’
“Well，youshouldhaveseenmedropmyhatandstepup。Ididmybest，andwhileItalkedtohimalittle，Imadeitmosttothewomen。Anyonecouldseetheywerestarvedforcompany，soI
tookthejobofentertainingthem。Itoldsomecollegejokes，funnythingsthathadhappenedintheneighbourhood，andeverythingofinterestIcouldthinkup。Iknowwewereatthetablefortwohourswiththingscomingandgoingonsilverplatters。“
Mothersatstraightsuddenly。
“Justwhatdidtheyhavetoeat，andhowdidtheyserveit？“sheasked。
“Couldn’ttellifIweretobeshotforit，mummy，“saidLaddie。
“Forgiveme！NexttimeI’lltakenotesforyou。Thisfirstplunge，Ihadtouseallmybrains，nottobeaboretothem；andtohandlefoodandcutleryasthewomendid。It’squiteaprocess，butastheywereservedfirst，Icoulddorightbywaiting。Ineverwaswherethingsweredonequitesoelaboratelybefore。“
“Andtheydidn’tknowtheywouldhavecompanyuntilyouwenttothetable？“
“Well，theymusthavethoughtlikely，therewasaplaceforme。“
“Umph！“saidmother。“Fineidea！Thenanyonewhodropsincanbeserved，andseethattheyarenotamiteoftrouble。Candace，alwaysanextraplaceafterthis！“
Fatherjustshouted。
“Ithoughtyou’dgetsomethingoutofit！“hesaid。
“Happytohavejustifiedyourfaith！“repliedmothercalmly。“Goon，son！“
“That’sall！“saidLaddie。“Weleftthetableandtalkedanhourmore。Thewomenaskedmetocomeagain；hedidn’tsayanythingonthatsubject；butwhenheorderedmyhorse，heaskedthePrincessifshewouldenjoyalittleexercise，andshesaidshewould，sohetoldThomastobringtheirhorses，andwerodearoundthesection，thePrincessandIahead，Mr。Pryorfollowing。Wheretheroadwasgoodandthelightfineenoughthattherewasnodangeroflamingahorse，wedroppedback，oneoneithersideofhim，sowecouldtalk。Mrs。Pryoratethecakeandsaiditwasfine；andthe`conserve，’shecalledit，deliciousassheeverhadtasted。Shesaidallourfruitsherehadmuchmoreflavourthanathome；shethoughtitwasthedryerclimateandmoresunshine。Shesenthergratefulthanks，andshewantsyourrecipebeforenextpreservingtime。“
Motherjustbeamed。My！butshedidlovetohavethethingsshecooked，braggedon。
“Possiblyshe’dlikemystrawberries？“shesaid。
“Thereisn’tadoubtaboutit，“saidLaddie。“I’veyettoseethefirstpersonwhodoesn’t。“
“Isthatall？“askedmother。
“Icanthinkofnothingmoreatthisminute，“answeredLaddie。
“Ifanythingcomestomymindlater，Iwon’tforgettotellyou。
Ohyes，therewasonething：Youcouldn’tkeepMr。PryorfromtalkingaboutLeon。Hemusthavetakenagreatfancytohim。HetalkeduntilheworriedthePrincess，andshetriedtokeephimawayfromthesubject，buthismindseemedtorunonitconstantly。Whenwewereridingshetalkedquiteasmuchashe，anditwillhustleustothinkwhatthelittlescampdid，anybiggerthantheydo。Ofcourse，father，youunderstoodthepriceMr。Pryormadeononeofhisveryfinestcoltswasajoke。
There’sastrainofArabinthefather——heshowedmetherecord——
andthemotherisbluegrass。Thereyougetgentlenessandendurancecombinedwithspeedandnerve。I’dtradeFlosforthatcoltasitstandsto-day。There’snothingbetteronearthinthewayofhorse。Hisofferispracticallygivingitaway。Iknow，withtherecordstoproveitspedigree，whatthatcoltwouldbringhiminanycitymarket。“
“Idon’tlikeit，“saidmother。“IwantLeontohaveahorse，butaboyinafirstexperience，andrecklessasheis，doesn’tneedahorselikethat，foronething，andwhatismoreimportant，IrefusetobeputunderanyobligationstoPryors。“
“That’sthereasonMr。Pryoraskedanythingatallforthehorse。
ItismyopinionthathewouldbegreatlypleasedtogiveittoLeon，ifhecoulddowhatheliked。“
“Well，that’spreciselythethinghecan’tdointhisfamily，“
saidmothersternly。
“Whatdoyouthink，father？“askedLaddie。
“IthinkAmen！tothatproposition，“saidfather；“butIwouldhavetotaketimetothreshitoutcompletely。ItappealstomethatLeonisoldenoughtorecognizethevalueoftheanimal；andthatthecareofitwoulddevelopandstrengthenhischaracter。
Itwouldbearesponsibilitythatwouldsteadyhim。Youcouldteachhimtotendandbreakit。“
“Breakit！“criedLaddie。“Breakit！Whyfather，he’sridingitbarebackalloverthePryormeadownow，andjumpingitoverlogs。
Wheneverheleaves，itfollowshimtothefence，andthePrincesssaysalmostanyhourofthedayyoulookoutyoucanseeitpacingupanddownwatchingthiswayandwhinnyingforhimtocome。“
“Andyourbestjudgmentis——？“
Laddielaughedashetiedmyhoodstrings。“WellIdon’tfeelaboutthePryorsastherestofyoudo，“hesaid。“Ifthemoneyisn’tclaimedinsidethetimeyouspecified，IwouldletLeonandMr。Pryormaketheirownbargain。Theboywon’tknowforyearsthatitispracticallyagift，anditwouldpleaseMr。Pryorimmensely。Nowrun，oryou’llbelate！“
Ihadtogo，soIdidn’tknowhowtheysettledit，butiftheywouldn’tletLeonhavethathorse，itwasdownrightmean。WhatifwewereunderobligationstoMr。Pryor？WeweretoSarahHood，andhalfthepeopleweknew，andwhatwasmore，weLIKEDtobe。
WhenIcamefromschoolthatnightfatherhadbeentotown。Hehadanaxandwasopeningabigcrate，containingtwoofthelargest，bluestgeeseyoueversaw。Laddiesaidbeingboxedthatwayandseeingthemsoclosemadethemlooksobig；really，theywerenofinerthanPryors’，wherehehadgottheaddressoftheplacethatsoldthem。Motherwassopleased。Shesaidshehadneededanewstrain，foralongtime，toimproveherfeathers；
nowshewouldhavepillowsworthwhile，inafewyears。Theyputtheminthebarnwhereourgeesestayedovernight，andhowtheydidscream。Thatis，oneofthemdid；theotheractedqueerlyandfathersaidtoLaddiethathewasafraidthetripwashardonit。Laddiesaiditmighthavebeenhurt，andmotherwasworriedtoo。Beforeshehadthemanhour，shehadsoldallourganders；
springhadcome，shehadsavedthebluegooseeggs，setthemunderahen，raisedthegoslingswiththelittlechickens，neverlostone，pickedthemandmadeanewpairofpillowstoofineforanyonelessimportantthanabishop，orajudge，orDr。Fennertosleepon。Thenshebegansavingforafeatherbed。Andstillthegoosedidn’tactasspryorfeelasgoodasthegander。Hestuckuphishead，screamed，spreadhiswingsandwavedthem，andthebuttslookedsobigandhard，Iwasnotrightcertainwhetheritwouldbesafetoteasehimornot。
ThefirstpersonwhocametoseethemwasSarahHood，andsheleftwiththepromiseofapairassoonasmothercouldraisethem。Fathersaidtheonlyreasonmotherdidn’tdivideherhairwithSarahHoodwasbecauseitwasfast，andshecouldn’t。
Mothersaidgraciousgoodness！she’dbegladtogetridofsomeofitifshecould，andofcourseSarahshouldhavefirstchanceatit。Hadn’tshekeptherovernightsoshecouldseehernewhomewhenshewasrested，anddidn’tshecomewithher，andhelphergetsettled，andhadsheeverfailedwhenwehadababy，orsickness，ortrouble，orthrashers，oraparty？Ofcourseshe’dgladlydivide，eventhehairofherhead，withSarahHood。Andfathersaid，“Yes，heguessedshewould，andcometothinkofit，he’djustassoonspareSarahpartofhis，“andthentheybothlaughed，whenitwasnothingsoveryfunnythatIcouldsee。
ThenextcallerthegeesehadwasMrs。Freshett。My！shethoughttheywerebigandfine。Motherpromisedheracoupleofeggstosetunderahen。Fathersaidshewasgraduallycomingdownthescaleofherfeelings，andbeforetwoweeksshe’dgiveIsaacThomas，atleast，aquillforapen。Almostnoonewrotewiththemanymore，butoftenfathermadeafew，andshowedushowtousethem。Hesaidtheyweregonewithcandles，sandboxes，andsnuff。Mothersaidshehadnouseforsnuff，butcandleswerenotgone，she’dmakeandusethemtothedayofherdeath，astheywerethenicestlighteverinventedtocarryfromroomtoroom，orwhenyouonlywantedtositandthink。Fathersaidtherewasreallynogoodpenexceptthequillyousharpenedyourself；andwhileheoftenusedsteeloneslikewechildrenhadatschooltowritetothebrothersandsistersaway，andhisfamily，healwayskeptafewchoicequillsinthetillofhischest，andwhenhewroteadeed，oranyvaluablepaper，wheretherewasadealwithmoney，heusedthem。Hesaiditlentthedignityofapastdaytoanimportantoccasion。
AftermotherandMrs。Freshetthadtalkedovereverysinglethingaboutthegeese，andthattheywerelikePryors’hadbeensettled，Mrs。Freshettsaid：“Sincehetoldaboutitbeforeallofus，andstartedoutthewayhedid，woulditbeamisstoaskhowLaddiegotonatPryors’？“
“JustthewayIthoughthewould，“saidmother。“Hestayeduntilallofuswereinbed，andI’dneverhaveknownwhenhecamein，ifitwerenotahabitofhisalwaystocometomydoortoseeifI’msleeping。SometimesI’mwakeful，andifhepommelsmypillowgood，bringsmeadrink，andrubsmyheadafewstrokeswithhisstrong，coolhands，Icansettledownandhaveagoodnight’srest。Iwasawakewhenhecame，orI’dneverhaveknown。Itwasalmostmidnight；buttheysattwohoursatthetable，andthenallofthemrode。“
“NottheMissus？“
“Ohno！She’snotstrongenough。Shereallyhasincurablehearttrouble，theworstkindthereis；herdaughtertoldmeso。“
“Thentheybetterlookout，“saidMrs。Freshett。“Sheislikelytokeeloveratabreath。“
“Theymustknowit。That’swhyshekeepssoquiet。“