“Surgeretento！“readMr。Pryor，fromthelittleshield。“Fourshells！Madame，Iknowmenwhowouldgivetheirlivestoownthis，andtohavebeenbornwiththerighttowearit。Itcametoyourhusbandinstraightline？“
“Yes，“saidmother，“butgenerationsback。Heneverworeit。Heneverwould。Heonlysavesitforthechildren。“
“Itgoestoyoureldestson？“
“Byrights，Isupposeitshould，“saidmother。“Butfathermentionedittheothernight。Hesaidnoneofhisboyshadgoneashetriedtoinfluencethem，unlessLaddiedoesnowinchoosinglandforhisfuture，andifhedoes，hisfatherisinclinedtoleaveittohim，andIagree。AtourdeathitgoestoLaddieI
amquitesure。“
“Well，Ihope——Ihope，“saidMr。Pryor，“thattheyoungmanhasthewittounderstandwhatthiswouldmeantohiminEngland。“
“Hiswitisjustaboutlevelwithhisfather’s，“saidmother。
“HeneverhasbeeninEngland，andmostprobablyheneverwillbe。Idon’tthinkitmeansarapmoretoLaddiethanitdoestomyhusband。Laddieissobusydevelopingthemanhoodborninhim，hehasnotimetochasetherainbowofreflectedglory，andnobeliefinitsstabilityifhewalkedinitslight。ThechildofmyfamilytowhomthattrinketreallymeanssomethingisLittleSister，here。WhenLeoncameinwiththethief，Ithoughtheshouldhaveit；butafterall，sheisthestaunchestlittleCrusaderIhave。“
Mr。Pryorlookedmeoverwithmuchinterest。
“Yes，yes！Nodoubt！“hesaid。“Butthemaleline！Thispricelesstreasureshoulddescendtooneofthemaleline！ToonewhosenamewillremainStanton！ToLaddiewouldbebest，nodoubt！Nodoubtatall！“
“Wewillthinkaboutit，“saidmotherserenelyasMr。Pryorarosetogo。
Heapologizedforstayingsolong，andmothersaidithadn’tbeenlong，andaskedhimthenicestevertocomeagain。Shewalkedinthesunlightwithhimandpointedoutthechestnuts。Sheaskedwhathethoughtofalineoftreestoshadetheroad，andtheydiscussedwhetherthepleasuretheywouldgiveinsummerwouldpayforthedampnesstheywouldholdinwinter。Theywanderedaroundtheyardandintothegarden。Shesentmetobringaknife，trowel，andpaper，sowhenhestartedforhome，hewascarryingaloadofcuttings，androotstoplant。
Whenfathercamefromtownthatevening，atthefirstsightofhim，shewentstraightintohisarms，herfacebeaming；shehadbeenlikeasunallthatday。Someofitmusthavebeenjoycarriedoverfromyesterday。
“PraiseGod，thewedgeisin！“shecried。
Fatherheldhertight，strokedherhair，andbegansmilingwithouthavingtheleastideawhy，butheverywellknewthatwhateverpleasedherlikethatwasgoingtobegoodnewsforhimalso。
“Whathashappened，mother？“heasked。
“Mr。Pryorcameoverabouttheroadandbridgetax，andohPaul！
I’vesaideverywordtohimI’vebeenburstingtosayfromtheverystart。Everysingleword，Paul！“
“Howdidhetakeit？“
“Timewilltell。Anyway，heheardit，allofit，andhewentbackcarryingaloadofthingstoplant。Onlythinkofthat！
Oncehebeginsplanting，andwatchingthingsgrow，thehomefeelingisboundtocome。Itellyou，Paul，thewedgeisin！OhI’msohappy！“
CHAPTERXIV
TheCrestofEastbrooke“Sow；——andlookonward，upward，Wherethestarrylightappears，——
Where，inspiteofcoward’sdoubting，Oryourownheart’stremblingfears，YoushallreapinjoytheharvestYouhavesownto-dayintears。“
Anyobjectionstomybeginningtobreakgroundonthewesteightyto-day？“askedLaddieoffatheratbreakfastMondaymorning。
“Ihadthoughtwewouldcommenceontheeastforty，whenplanningthework。“
“SohadI，“saidLaddie。“ButsinceIthoughtthat，averyparticularreasonhasdevelopedformybeginningtoplowthewesteightyatonce，andthereisacharminglittledittyIfeelstronglyimpelledtowhistleeverystepoftheway。“
Fatherlookedathimsharply，andso，Ithink，didallofus。
Andbecausewelovedhimdeeply，wesawthathisfacewasatriflepaleforhim；hiscleareyestroubled，inspiteofhislaughingway。Heknewwewerestudyinghimtoo，buthewouldn’thavesaidanythingthatwouldmakeuslookandquestionifhehadmindedourdoingit。ThatwasexactlylikeLaddie。Hemeantitwhenhesaidhehatedasecret。Hesaidtherewasnoplaceonearthforamantolookforsympathyandloveifhecouldn’tfinditinhisownfamily；andheneverhadbeensohappysinceIhadbeenbigenoughtonoticehismoodsashehadbeensinceallofusknewaboutthePrincess。Hedidn’twaitforfathertoaskwhyhe’dchangedhismindabouttheplacetobegin。
“Yousee，“hesaid，“averycharmingfriendofmineexpressedherselfstronglylastnightaboutthedegradinginfluenceoffarming，especiallythatbranchofagriculturewhichevolvesitselfinafurrow；henceitismynonetoohappyworktoplowthewesteightywhereshecan’tlookourwaywithoutseeingme；
andIhavegottowhistlemyfavourite`toon’whereshemuststopherearsifshedoesn’thear；andthenitwillbemypainfultask，Ifear，toendeavourtoconvinceherthatIamstillclean，decent，andnotdegraded。“
“OhLaddie！“criedmother。
“Abominablefoolishness！“roaredfatherlikehedoesroaronceinabouttwoyears。
“Isn’titnow？“askedLaddiesweetly。“Idon’tknowwhathasgotintoherhead。Shehasseenmeplowingfiftytimessincetheirlandhasjoinedours，andsheneverobjectedbefore。“
“Icantellyoublessedwell！“saidmother。“Shedidn’tcaretwohootshowmuchmysonplowed，butitmakesadifferencewhenitcomestoherlover。“
“Maw，youspeakamazingreckless，“saidLaddie，“ifIthoughttherewasanythinginTHATfeatureofthecase，I’dattemptaHighlandflingontheridgepoleofourbarn。“
“Beserious！“saidfathersternly。“Thisisnolaughingmatter。“
“That’spreciselywhyIamlaughing，“saidLaddie。“Wouldithelpmeanytositdownandweep？Itrownot！Ihavethoughtmostofthesilentwatches——bythewaytheyarefarfromsilentinMay——andasIreadmytitleclear，it’smyjobtoplowthewesteightyimmejit。“
Fathertriedtolookstern，buthejusthadtolaugh。
“Allrightthen，plowit！“hesaid。
“Whatdidshesay？“askedmother。
“Phew！“Laddiethrewupbothhands。“Shemusthavebeenbottledsometimeonthesubject。Thefermentwasaspillofconsiderablemagnitude。Thefloodratheroverwhelmedme，becauseitwassounexpected。Ihadbeentakingforgrantedthatsheacceptedmycircumstancesandsurroundingsasshedidme。Butno，kindfriends，farotherwise！Shesaidlastnight，intheclearestEnglishIeverheardspokenimpromptu，thatIwasamansuitableforherfriend，butIwouldhavetochangemyoccupationbeforeIcouldbereceivedonmorethanafriendlyfooting。“
“`Onmorethanafriendlyfooting’？“repeatedmother。
“Youhaveherexactwords，“saidLaddie。“Kindlypasstheham。“
“Whatdidyousay？“
“Nothing！Iamgoingtoplowtheanswer。Pleasedon’tobjecttomybeginningthismorning。“
“Youtryyourselfallwintertogetasfarasyouhave，andthenupsetthebowllikethis？“criedmother。
“Softly，mummy，softly！“saidLaddie。“WhatamItodo？I’vedefinitelydecidedonmywork。Iseelandandlife，asyouandfathertaughtme，inrangeandinperspectivefarmorethanyou’vegotfromit。Youhadafirsthandwrestle。ThelandI
covethasbeengreatlyimprovedalready。IcandowhatIchoosewithit，makingnomorestrenuouseffortthanplowing；andIamproudtosaythatILOVEtoplow。Ilikemyfeetinthesoil。I
wantmyheadinthespringair。Icanbecomealmosttipsyontheodoursthatfillmynostrils。MusicevolvedbytheAlmightyisplentygoodenoughforme。I’mproudofaspankingbigteam，underthecontrolofatouchoraword。Ienjoyfarming，andI
amgoingtobeafarmer。Plowingisoneofthemostpleasingpartsofthejob。Sowingtheseedbeatsitalittle，fromanartisticstandpoint，eitherispreferabletohaying，threshing，orcorncutting：allarepartsofmywork，soI’mgoingtobegin。
Mother，Ihopeyoudon’tmindifItakeyourgrays。I’llbeverycareful；butthepictureIpresenttomygirlto-dayisgoingtogohardwithheratbest，soI’dliketomakeitlevelbest。“
Hearose，wentaroundandkneltbesidemother。Hetookher，chairandall，inhisarms：
“Bestofmothers！onmybreastLeanthyhead，andsinktorest。“
Shequoted。Motherlaughed。
“Mammy，“heaskedbendingtowardher，“amIclean？“
“Yougoose！“shesaid，puttingherarmsaroundhimandholdinghimtight。
“Ganderlove，“saidLaddie，turninguphisfaceforakiss。
“Honestmother，youhavebeenthroughnighuntofortyyearsofit，tellme，canamanbeafarmerandkeepneatenoughnottoberepulsivetoarefinedwoman？“
“Yourfatheristheanswer，“saidmother。“Allofyouknowhowperfectlyrepulsiveheisandalwayshasbeentome。“
“`Repulsive，“’saidfather。“That’sanuglyword！“
“Thereareawholelotofunpleasantthingsthatpeeparoundcornersoccasionally，“saidLaddie。“ButwhoeverofyoudearpeopleitwasthatshowedMr。PryortheCrestofEastbrooke，broughtoutthisparticulardragonformetoslay。“
“Tut，tut！Nowwhatdoesthatmean？“saidfather。“Havewehadalittleexhibitionofthatespecialbrandofpridethatgoesbeforeafall？“
“Wehave！andItakethetumble，“saidLaddie。“Watchmestart！
`Jackfelldownandbrokehiscrown。’Question——will`Jillcometumblingafter？’“
MyheartstoppedandIwasshakinginmybarefeet，becauseI
worenoshoestoshakein。Ohmysoul！NomatterhowLaddiejestedIknewhewasalmostkilled；theharderhemadefun，theworsehewashurt。IopenedmymouthtosayIdidit，Ihadto，butLeonbegantotalk。
“Well，Ithinkshe’ssmart！“hecried。“Ifshewasgoingtogiveyouthemitten，whydidn’tshedoitlongago？“
“Shehadtofindoutfirstwhethertherewereapossibilityofherwantingtokeepit，“saidLaddie。
“You’resureyouareallsigned，sealed，anddeliveredonthisplowingbusiness，areyou？“askedLeon。
“Deadsure！“saidLaddie。
“Allright，ifyoulikeit！“saidLeon。“Noneformeaftercollege！Butsay，youcanbeafarmerandnotplow，youknow。
Yougotrimthetrees，andworkatcleaner，moregentlemanlyjobs。I’llplowthatfield。I’djustassoonasnot。IplowedlastyearandyousaidIdidwell，didn’tyou，father？“
“Yes，onthepotatopatch，“saidfather。“Acornfieldisadifferentthing。Ifearyouaretoolight。“
“Ohbutthatwasayearago！“criedLeon。
Hepushedbackhischairandwenttofather。
“Justfeelmybicepsnow！Mostlikesteel！“heboasted。“A
fellowcangrowalotinayear，andalltheridingI’vebeendoing，andalltheexerciseI’vehad。Cert’Icanplowthatmeadow。“
“You’reallright，shaver，“saidLaddie。“I’llnotforgetyouroffer；butinthiscaseitwouldn’thelp。EitherthePrincesstakeshermedicineorItakemine。I’mgoingtoliveonland：
I’mgoingtoplowinplainsightofthePryorhousethisweek，ifIhavetohiretoJacobHoodtogetthechance。MayIplow，andmayItakethegrays，father？“
“Yes！“saidfatherroundly。
“Thenheregoes！“saidLaddie。“Youneedn’tfret，mother。I’llnotoverheatthem。Imustgiveaconcertsimultaneouswiththisplowingperformance，andI’mparticularaboutthemusic，soI
can’tgotoofast。Also，I’llwraptheharness。“
“GoodnessknowsI’mnotthinkingaboutthehorses，“saidmother。
“No，butiftheyturnedupnextSunday，wind-broken，andwithnicelargepatchesofhairrubbedfromtheirsides，youwouldbe！
Ifyouwereme，wouldyouwhistle，orvocalizetostarton？“
Motherburstrightoutcryingandlaidherfacealltear-wetagainsthim。Laddiekissedher，andwipedawaythetears，teasedher，andsoonashecouldheboltedfromtheeastdoor；butIwasclosest，soIsawplainlythathiseyeswerewettoo。Mysoulandbody！ANDIHADDONEIT！Imightaswellgetitover。
“IshowedMr。Pryorthetrinket，“Isaid。
“Howdidyoucometodothat？“askedfathersternly。
“Whenhewastalkingwithmother。HetoldherLaddiewouldbe`wasted’farming——“
“Wasted？“
“That’swhathesaid。Mothertoldhimyouhadalwaysfarmedandyouwerea`powerinthiscommunity。’Shetoldhimaboutwhatyoudid，becauseyouwantedto，andwhatyouCOULDdoifyouchose，aboutholdingoffice，youknow，andthatseemedtomakehimthinkheapsmoreofyou，soIthoughtitwouldbeagoodthingforhimtoknowabouttheCrusaderstoo，andIranandgotthecrest。ITHOUGHTitwouldhelp——“
“Andsoitwill，“saidmother。“Theyconstantlymakethebestshowingtheycan，wemightaswell，too。Thetroubleistheygotmorethantheyexpected。Theythoughttheycouldlookdownonus，andpatronizeus，iftheycamenearatall；whentheyfoundwewerequiteaswelleducatedasthey，hadasmuchland，couldholdprominentofficesifwechose，andhadtherighttothatbauble，theyveeredtotheotherextreme。Nowtheyseemtodemandthatwequitwork——“
“Movetothecity，`sitonacushionandsewafineseam，’“
suggestedfather。