“Exactly！“saidmother。“They’llhavetofindoutwearerunningourownbusiness；butI’msorryitfelltoLaddietoshowthem。
Youcouldhavedoneitbetter。Itwillcomeoutallright。ThePrincessisnotgoingtoloseamanlikeLaddieonaccountofhowhemakeshismoney。“
“Don’tbetooconfident，“saidfather。“Withpeopleoftheirstripe，howmuchmoneyamancanearn，andatwhatoccupation，constitutethewholeoflife。“
Shewasn’ttooconfident。Yesterdayshehadbeensohappyshealmostflew。To-dayshekeptthingsgoing，andsangalot，butnearlyeverytimeyoulookedatheryoucouldseeherlipsdrawtight，afrowncrossherforehead，andherheadshake。Prettysoonweheardaracketontheroad，sowewentout。TherewasLaddiewiththematchedteamofcarriagehorsesandaplow。Now，indreadfullybusytimes，fatherletNedandJoworkalittle，butnotverymuch。Theywerenotplowhorses；theywereroadsters。Theylikedtoprance，andbowtheirnecksanddancetothecarriage。Itshamedthemtobehitchedtoaplow。Theydroopedtheirheadsandslunkalonglikedogscaughtsuckingeggs。Buttheywereasightonthelandscape。Theywereleanandslenderandyetroundtoo，matcheddapplegrayonflankandside，withlongsnow-whitemanesandtails。Nowondermotherdidn’twantthemtowork。Laddiehadreachedthroughthegardenfenceandhookedabunchofredtulipsandyellowdaffodils。TheredwasatJo’sear，andtheyellowatNed’s，andtheydidlookfine。Sodidhe！Big，strong，clean，aredflowerinhisfloppystrawhatband；andafterhedrovethroughthegate，hebeganashrill，fifelikewhistleyoucouldhaveheardahalfmile：
“Seethemerryfarmerboy，trampthemeadowsthrough，Swinghishoeincarelessjoy，whiledashingoffthedew。
Bobolinkinmaplehigh，trillsanoteofglee，Farmerboyingayreplynowwhistlescheerily。“
Thechoruswasallwhistle，anditwaswrittenforfolkswhocould。Itwentupuntilitalmostsplittheechoes，andLaddiecouldeasilysailameasureabovethenotes。Hedidittoo。Asforme，Ikeptfromsight。ForaweekLaddiewhistledandplowed。Heworethattunethreadbare，andgotanalmostcontinuouspuckeronhislips。Leonsaidifhedidn’tstopwhistling，andsingmore，thegirlswouldthinkhewasdoingaprunesandprismsstunt。Soafterthathesangthewords，andwhistledthechorus。Buthemadenoexcusetogo，andhedidn’tgo，toPryors’。WhenSundaycame，hewenttoWestchestertoseeElizabeth，andstayeduntilMondaymorning。NotoncethatweekdidthePrincessridepastourhouse，orherfathereither。BynoonMondayLaddiewasbackinthefield，andIhadallIcouldbear。Hewasneitherwhistlingnorsingingsomuchnow，becausehewasawayatthesouthend，wherehecouldn’tbeseenorheardatPryors’。Healmostscouredtheskinfromhim，andheworehisglovesmorecarefullythanusual。Ifhesoiledhisclothingintheleast，anditlookedasifhewouldmakemorethanhisshareofwork，hewashedtheextrapiecesatnight。
TuesdaymorningIhurriedwithallmymight，andthenIrantothefieldwherehewas。Iclimbedonthefence，satthereuntilhecameup，andthenIgavehimsomecookies。Hestoppedthehorses，climbedbesidemeandatethem。Thenheputhisarmsaroundmeandhuggedmetight。
“Laddie，doyouknowIdidit？“Iwailed。
“Didyounow？“saidLaddie。“No，Ididn’tknowforsure，butI
hadsuspicions。Youalwayshavehadsuchafondnessforthatparticularpieceoftinware。“
“ButLaddie，itmeanssomuch！“
“Doesn’tit？“saidLaddie。“Afewdaysagonoonecouldhaveconvincedmethatitmeantanythingatalltome，orevercould。
Justlookatmenow！“
“Don’tjoke，Laddie！Somethingmustbedone。“
“Well，ain’tIdoingit？“askedLaddie。“LookatalltheseacresandacresofJim-dandyplowing！“
“Don’t！“Ibegged。“Whydon’tyougooverthere？“
“Nouse，Chicken，“saidLaddie。“YouseeherexactstipulationwasthatImustCHANGEMYOCCUPATIONbeforeIcameagain。“
“Whatdoesshewantyoutodo？“
“Law，Ithink。Unfortunately，IshowedheraletterfromJerryaskingmetoenterhisofficethisfall。“
“Hadn’tyoubetterdoit，Laddie？“
“Howwouldyouliketobeshutinlittle，stuffyrooms，andsettodroningoverbooksandpaperseveryhouroftheday，allyourlife，andtospendthebestofyourbrainandbodilystrengthstraighteningoutothermen’squarrels？“
“OhLaddie，youjustcouldn’t！“Icried。
“Precisely！“saidLaddie。“Ijustcouldn’t，andIjustwon’t！“
“Whatcanyoudo？“
“Imightcompromiseonstock，“hesaid。“Icouldfollowthesameoccupationasherfather，andwithbettersuccess。Neitherhenorhismengetthebestresultsfromhorses。Theydon’tunderstandthem，especiallythebreedstheyareattemptingtohandle。MostArabhorsemenaretentdwellers。Theytravelfromoneoasistoanotherwiththeirstock。Atnighttheirherdsaregatheredaroundthemaschildren。Aschildrentheylovethem，petthem，feedthem。Eachisnamedforadivinity，aplanetorafamousruler，andtheunderstandingbetweenmasterandbeastisperfect。Honestly，LittleSister，IthinkyouhavegottobelieveintheGodofIsrael，inordertosaytherightwordtoanArabianhorse；andIknowyoumustbelieveintheGodoflove。
Abeastofthatbreed，jerked，kicked，andscoldedisafinehorseruined。IfIownedhalfthestockMr。Pryorhasoverthere，IcouldputitinsuchshapeformarketthatIcouldgettwicefromitwhathismenwill。“
“AreThomasandJamesroughwiththehorses？“
“`Likemaster，likeman，’“quotedLaddie。“Theyare！TheyarefoolishwiththeKentuckystrain，andfoolswiththeArab；andyet，thatcombinationbeatstheworld。ButImustgetonwiththeP。C。job。“
Heslidfromthefence，tookadrinkfromhiswaterjug，andpulledahandfulofgrassforeachhorse。Ashestoodfeedingthem，Ialmostfellfromthetoprail。
“Laddie！“Iwhispered。“Look！Mr。PryorishalfwayacrossthefieldonRanger。“
“So？“saidLaddie。“NowIwonder——“
“ShallIgo？“
“Noindeed！“saidLaddie。“Stayrightwhereyouare。Itcan’tbeanythingofmuchimportance。“
Atfirstitdidn’tseemtobe。Theytalkedabouttheweather，thesoil，theteam。Laddiescoopedahandfulofblackearth，andholdingitout，toldMr。Pryorallabouthowgooditwas，andwhy，andheseemedinterested。Thentheytalkedabouteverything；untilifhehadbeenJacobHood，hewouldhavegoneaway。ButjustatthetimewhenIexpectedhimtostart，helookedatLaddiestraightandhard。
“ImissedyouSabbathevening，“hesaid。
ThenIlookedathim。Hehadchanged，someway。Heseemedmorehuman，morelikeourfolks，lesscoldandstern。
“Isincerelyhopeitwasunanimous，“saidLaddie。
Mr。Pryorhadtolaugh。
“Itwasamajority，atanyrate。“
Laddiestareddazed。Youseethatwaskindofajoke。Aneasyone，becauseIcaughtit；butwewerenotaccustomedtoexpectingajestfromMr。Pryor。Notoneofusdreamedtherewasajokebetweenhishatcrownandhisbootsoles。ThenLaddielaughed；
buthesoberedquickly。
“I’mmightysorryifMrs。Pryormissedme，“hesaid。“Ithoughtofher。Ihavegrowntobeherdevotedslave，andIhopedshelikedme。“
“Youputitmildly，“saidMr。Pryor。“Sinceyoudidn’tcomewhensheexpectedyou，we’vehadtheworsttimewithherthatwehavehadsincewereachedthisda——ah——er——um——thiscountry。“
“Couldyoumakeanysuggestion？“askedLaddie。
“Icould！IwouldsuggestthatyouactlikethesensiblefellowIknowyoutobe，andcomeasusual，atyouraccustomedtimes。“
“ButI’mforbidden，man！“criedLaddie。
Ugh！SuchawfulthingsasMr。Pryorsaid。
“Forbidden！“hecried。“Isaman’sroofhisown，orisitnot？
WhileIlive，Iproposetobetheheadofmyfamily。Iinviteyou！Iaskyou！Mrs。PryorandIwantyou！Whatmoreisnecessary？“
“TWOthings，“saidLaddie，justasserenely。“ThatMissPryorwantsme，andthatIwanttocome。“
“D’yemeantotellmethatyouDON’Twanttocome，eh？Afterthefightyouputuptoforceyourwayin！“
Laddiestudiedthesky，awhimsysmileonhislips。
“Nowwasn’tthatagoodfight？“heinquired。“I’mmightyproudofit！Butnotnow，orever，doIwishtoenteryourhouseagain，ifMissPryordoesn’twant，andwelcomeme。“
Thenhewentover，tookMr。Pryor’shorsebythehead，andbeganworkingwithitsbridle。Itdidn’tsetrightsomeway，andMr。
Pryorhadjerked，spurred，andmauled，untiltherewasabigspacetrampedtomortar。Laddieslidhisfingersbeneaththeleather，easeditalittle，andranhishandsoverthefretfulcreature’shead。Itjuststopped，stoodstill，pusheditsnoseunderhisarm，andpressedagainsthisside。Mr。Pryoraroseinonestirrup，swungaroundandalighted。Heloopedanarmthroughthebridlerein，andwithbothhandsgrippedhiswhipstock。
“Howthedevildoyoudoit？“heasked，asifhewereprovoked。
“First，thebridlewasuncomfortable；next，yousurelyknow，Mr。
Pryor，thatamancantransferhismentalstatetohismount。“
Laddiepointedtothechurnedupearth。
“THATrepresentsyourmentalstate；THIS“——heslidhishanddowntheneckofthehorse——“portraysmine。“
Mr。Pryor’sfacereddened，butLaddiewaslaughingsoheartilyhejoinedinsortofsickly-like。
“OhIdoubtifyouaresodamnablycalm！“hecried。
“I’mCALMenough，sofarasthatgoes，“saidLaddie。“I’mnotdenyingthatI’vegotaboutalltheheartacheIcanconvenientlycarry。“
“Doyoumindtellingmehowfarthisaffairhasgone？“
“Wouldn’taright-mindedmangivethewomaninthecasethefirstchancetoanswerthatquestion？IgreatlypreferthatyouaskMissPryor。“
IfeverIfeltsorryforanyone，IdidthenforMr。Pryor。HestoodtheregrippingthewhipwithbothhandsandhelookedexactlyasiftheMaywindmightbreakhimintoathousandtinypieces，andeveryoneofthemwouldbeglass。
“Um——er——“hesaidatlast。“You’reright，ofcourse，butunfortunately，Pamelaandhermotherdidnotagreewithmymotives，ormycourseincomingtothiscountry；andwhilethereisnooutwarddemonstrationer——um——otherthanMrs。Pryor’sseclusion；yet，er——um！——IamforcedtothebeliefthatI’mNOT
intheirconfidence。“
“Isee！“saidLaddie。“Andofcourseyouloveyourdaughterasanymanwouldlovesobeautifulachild，andwhensheisallhehas——“Ithoughtthebreakwascomingrightthere，butMr。
Pryorclenchedhiswhipandputitoff；still，anyonewatchingwithhalfaneyecouldseethatitwasonlyputoff，andnotforlongatthat，——“Ithasbeenmyidea，Mr。Pryor，thatthepropercourseformewastoseeifIcouldearnanystandingwithyourdaughter。IfIcould，andshegavemepermission，thenI
intendedcomingtoyoutheinstantIknewhowshefelt。Butinsuchacaseasthis，Idon’tthinkIshallfindtheslightesthesitationintellingyouanythingyouwanttoknow，thatIamable。“
“Youdon’tknowhowyoustandwithher？“
Laddietookoffhishatandranhisfingersthroughhishair。
Hisfeetwereplantedwidelyapart，andhisfacewassoberenoughforanyfuneralnow。Atlasthespoke。
“I’vebeentryingtofigurethatout，“hesaidslowly。“I
believethesituationisasopentoyouasitistome。Shewasadesperatelylonely，homesickgirl，whenshecaughtmyeyeandheart；andIplacedmyselfonherhorizon。Inhercasethewomenwereslowinofferingfriendship，because，onaccountofMrs。
Pryor’sseclusion，nonewasfelttobewanted；thenMissPryorwasdifferentindressandmanner。IfoundawaytoletherseethatIwantedtobefriends，andsheacceptedmyfriendship，andatthesametimealloweditgoonlysofar。Onafewrareoccasions，I’vemetheralone，andwe’vetalkedoutvariousphasesoflifetogether；butmostofourintercoursehastakenplaceinyourhome，andinyourpresence。Youprobablyhaveseenhermeetandentertainherfriendsfrequently。IshouldthinkyouwouldbemorenearlyabletogaugemystandingwithherthanIam。“
“Youhaven’ttoldherthatyouloveher？“
“Haven’tIthough？“criedLaddie。“Manalive！WhatdoyouthinkI’mmadeof？Putty？Toldher？I’vetoldherathousandtimes。
I’vesaidit，andsungitandwhistledit，andlookedit，andlivedit。I’vewrittenit，andriddenit，andthisweekI’veplowedit！Yourdaughterknowsassheknowsnothingelse，inallthisworld，thatshehasonlytogivemeoneglance，oneword，onegestureofinvitation，tofindmebeforehersixfeetoftheworstdemoralizedbeefsteakawomaneverundertooktohandle。
Toldher？YeGods！IshouldsayI’vetoldher！“
IfanyofPryorshadbeenoutdoorstheycertainlycouldhaveheardMr。Pryor。Howhelaughed！Heshookuntilhetottered。
Laddietookhisarmandledhimtothefence。Heliftedabroadtoprail，pusheditbetweentwoothersacrossacornerandmadeanicecomfortableseatforhim。AfterawhileMr。Pryorwipedhiseyes。Laddiestoodwatchinghimwithaslowgrinonhisface。
“Andshehasn’tgiventhesignalyouarewaitingfor？“heaskedatlast。
Laddieslowlyshookhishead。
“Narytheghostofasignal！“hesaid。“NowwecometoSundaybeforelast。Ionlyintimated，vaguely，thatahintofwhereI
stoodwouldbeacomfort——andplayedJonah。Thewhaleswallowedmeatagulp，andforallmyinches，neverbattedaneye。Yousee，afewdaysbeforeIshowedheraletterfrommybrotherJerry，becauseIthoughtitmightinteresther。TherewassomethinginittowhichIhadpaidlittleornoattention，aboutmygoingtothecityandbeginningworkinhislawoffice；tocapthat，evidentlyyouhadmentionedbeforeherourprizepieceoffamilytinware。TherewasaculminationlikeathunderclapinaJanuarysky。ShesaideverythingthatwasonhermindaboutamanofmysizeandabilitydoingtheworkIam，andthenshesaidImustchangemyoccupationbeforeIcameagain。“
“Andforansweryou’vesplittheechoeswithsomeshrill，abominableair，andplowed，beforeherveryeyes，foraweek！“
ThenLaddielaughed。
“Doyouknow，“hesaid；“that’sagoodoneonme！Itneveroccurredtomethatshewouldnotbefamiliarwiththatair，andunderstanditsapplication。Doyoumeantocrushmefurtherbytellingmethatallmyperfectlylovelyvocalizingandwhistlingwaslost？“
“Itwasademirritating，challengingsortofthing，“saidMr。
Pryor。“Ilistenedtoitbythehour，myself，tryingtomakeoutexactlywhatitdidmean。Itseemedtocombinedefiancewithpleading，andthroughandoverallrananoteofgleethatwasreallyquitecharming。“
“Youhavequotedapartofit，literally，“saidLaddie。“`Anoteofglee’——thecryofagladheart，atpeacewithalltheworld，busywithcongenialwork。“
“Ishouldn’thavethoughtyou’dhavebeensoparticularlyjoyful。“
“Oh，thejoywasinthemusic，“saidLaddie。“Thatwasawhistletokeepupmycourage。Thejoywasinthesong，notinme！Lastweekwasblackenoughformetosatisfythemostexactingpessimist。“