couldtalk，forIwasgettingintoanawfulmess。“Youseeheknowsthatyouwanthimtobealawyer，andthathemustquitplowingbeforehecanbemorethanfriendswithyou。That’swhathe’splowingfor！Ifitwasn’tforthat，probablyhewouldn’t；
beplowingatall。Heaskedfathertolethim，andheborrowedmother’shorses，andhehookedtheflowersthroughthefence。
Everynightwhenhecomeshome，hekneelsbesidemotherandasksherifheis`repulsive，’andshetakeshiminherarmsandthetearsrolldownhercheeksandshesays：`Fatherhasfarmedallhislife，andyouknowhowrepulsiveheis。’“
Iventuredanupwardpeep。Iwasdoingbetter。Hertemperseemedtobecooling，butherfacewasajumble。Icouldn’tfindanyonethingonitthatwouldhelpme，soIjuststumbledaheadguessingatwhattosay。
“Hedidn’tWANTtodoit。HeperfectlyHATEDit。ThosefieldswerehisWaterloo。EveryfurrowwasaFIGHT，buthewasFORCED
toshowyou。“
“ExactlyWHATwashetryingtoshowme？“
“Icanthinkofthreethingshetoldme，“Ianswered。“Thatplowingcouldbesomanagedasnottodisfigurethelandscape——“
“Thedunce！“shesaid。
“Thathecouldplowordodirtierwork，andnotberepulsive——“
“Theidiot！“shesaid。
“Thatifhecameoverthere，andplowedrightunderyournose，whenyou’dtoldhimhemustn’t，orhecouldn’tbemorethanfriends；andwhenyouknewthathe’dmuchratherdieandbelaidbesidethelittlesistersupthereinthecemeterythantoNOTbemorethanfriends，why，you’dsee，ifhedidTHAT，hecouldn’thelpit，thathejustMUST。ThathewasFORCED——“
“Thesoldier！“shesaid。
“OhPrincess，hedidn’twantto！“Icried。“Hetellsmesecretshedoesn’tanyoneelse，unlessyou。Hetoldmehowhehatedit；
buthejusthadtodoit。“
“DoyouknowWHY？“
“Ofcourse！It’sthewayhe’sMADE！Fatherislikethat！Hehaschancestoliveincities，makebigbusinessdeals，andgotothelegislatureatIndianapolis；I’veseenhislettersfromhisfriendOliverP。Morton，ourGovernor，youknow；they’reinhischesttillnow；butfathercan’tdoit，becauseheismadesohestaysathomeandworksforus，andthisfarm，andtownship，andcountywherehebelongs。Hesaysifallmenwilldothatthemillenniumwillcometo-morrow。I’sposeyouknowwhatthemillenniumis？“
“Ido！“saidthePrincess。“ButIdon’tknowwhatyourfatherandhisfriendOliverP。MortonhavetodowithLaddie。“
“Why，everythingonearth！Laddieisfather’sson，yousee，andheismadelikefather。Noneofourotherboysis。Notoneofthemlovesland。Leonisgoingawayasquickaseverhefinishescollege；butthemoreyoueducateLaddie，thebetterhelikestomakethingsgrow，themorehelovestomaketheworldbeautiful，tobekindtoeveryone，togentleanimals——why，thebiggestfightheeverhad，themanhewhipped’tilhemostcouldn’tbringhimbackagain，wasonewhokickedhishorseinthestomach。
Gee，Ithoughthe’dkilledhim！Laddiedidtooforawhile，butheonlysaidthemandeservedit。“
“Andsohedid！“criedthePrincessangrily。“Howbeastly！“
“That’sonereasonLaddiestickssoclosetoland。Hesayshedoesn’tmeetnearlysomanytwo-leggedbeastsinthecountry。
Almosteverytimehegoestotownheeithergetsintoafightorheseessomethingthatmakeshimfightingmad。Princess，youthinkthisbeautiful，don’tyou？“
Ijustpointedanywhere。Alltheworldwasinitthatmorning。
Youcouldn’tlookrightorleftandnotseelovelyplaces，hearmusic，andsmellflowers。
“Yes！Itisaltogetherwonderful！“shesaid。
“Wouldyouliketoliveamongthisallyourlife，andhaveyourplansmadetofixyouaplaceevennicer，andthenbeforcedtoleaveitandgotoalittleroominthecity，andmakeallthemoneyyouearnedoffofhowmuchothermenfightoverbusiness，andlandandsuchperfectlyawfulthings，thattheyalwayshavetobewhisperedwhenJerrytellsaboutthem？Wouldyou？“
“Youlittledunce！“shecried。
“IknowI’mafool。IknowI’mnottellingyouasinglethingI
should！MaybeI’mhurtingLaddiefarmorethanI’mhelpinghim，andifIam，IwishIwoulddiebeforeIseehim；butoh！
Princess，I’mtryingwithallmymighttomakeyouunderstandhowhefeels。HeWANTStodoeveryleastthingyou’dlikehimto。
Hewill，almostanythingelseintheworld，hewouldthis——hewouldinaminute，buthejustCAN’T。Allofusknowhecan’t！
Ifyou’dlivedwithhimsincehewaslittleandalwayshadknownhim，youwouldn’taskhimto；youwouldn’twanthimto！Youdon’tknowwhatyou’redoing！Mothersaysyoudon’t！You’llkillhimifyousendhimtothecitytolive，youjustwill！Youaredoingitnow！He’sgettingthinnerandwhitereveryday。
Don’t！Ohpleasedon’tdoit！“
ThePrincesswaslookingattheworld。Shewasgazingatitsodazed-likesheseemedtobesurprisedatwhatshesaw。Sheactedasifshe’dneverreallyseenitbefore。Shelookedandshelooked。Sheeventurnedherhorseafullcircletoseeallofit，andshewentaroundslowly。Isteppedfromonefoottotheotherandsweat；butIkeptquietandletherlook。Atlastwhenshecamearound，sheglanceddownatme，andshewasallmelted，andlovelyasanyoneyoueversaw，exactlylikeShelleyatChristmas，andshesaid：“Idon’tthinkIeversawtheworldbefore。Idon’tknowthatI’msocrazyaboutacitymyself，andIperfectlyhatelawyers。Cometothingofit，alawyerhelpedworkruininourfamily，andIneverhavebelieved，Ineverwillbelieve——“
Shestoppedtalkingandbeganlookingagain。Igaveherallthetimesheneeded。Iwasjuststrainingtobewise，formothersaysittakestheverywisestpersonthereistoknowwhentotalk，andwhentokeepstill。AsIfiguredit，nowwasthetimenottosayanotherworduntilshemadeuphermindaboutwhatI
hadtoldheralready。IfPryorsdidn’tknowwhatwethoughtofthembythattime，itwasn’tmother’sfaultormine。Asshestudiedthingsovershekeptonlooking。Whatshesawseemedtobedoingheraworldofgood。Herfaceshowediteverysecondplainerandplainer。PrettysoonitbegantolooklikeshewasgoingtocomethroughasAmosHurddidwhenhewasredeemed。
Then，beforemyveryeyes，ithappened！Idon’tknowhowIeverheldontothepieorkeptfromshouting，“PraisetheLord！“asfatherdoesattheMeetingHousewhenheishappiest。Thensheleanedtowardmeallwavery，andshiningeyed，andbloomful，andsaid：“DidyoueverhurtLaddie’sfeelings，andmakehimangryandsad？“
“I’msureIneverdid，“Ianswered。
“Butsupposeyouhad！Whatwouldyoudo？“
“Do？Why，I’dgotohimontherun，andI’dtellhimIneverintendedtohurthisfeelings，andhowsorryIwas，andI’dgivehimtheverybestkissIcould。“
ThePrincessstrokedMaud’sneckalongtimeandthoughtwhileshestudiedourfarm，theirsbeyondit，andatthelast，thefarfieldwhereLaddiewasplowing。Shethought，andthought，andafraidtocheep，Istoodgrippingtheshingleandwaited。
Finallyshesaid：“ThelasttimeLaddiewasatourhouse，Isaidtohimthosethingsherepeatedtoyou。Hewentawayatonce，hurtanddisappointed。Now，ifyoulike，alongwithyourpreciouspie，youmaycarryhimthismessagefromme。YoumaytellhimthatIsaidIamsorry！“
Icouldhavecried“Glory！“anddancedandshoutedthereintheroad，butIdidn’t。Itwasnotimetolosemyhead。Thatwasallsofineandsplendid，asfarasitwent，butitdidn’tquitecoverthecase。Inevercouldhavedoneitformyself；butforLaddieIwouldventureanything，soIlookedherintheeyes，straightasadart，andsaid：“He’dwantthekisstoo，Princess！“
Youcouldseeherstiffeninthesaddleandherfingersgripthereins，butIkeptonstaringrightintohereyes。
“Icouldcomeup，youknow，“Ioffered。
Adullredflamedinhercheeksandherlipsclosedtight。Onesecondshesatverystill，thenadancinglightleapedsparklingintohereyes；aflockofdimpleschasedeachotheraroundherlipslikeswallowscirclingtheirhomingplaceattwilight。
“Whataboutthatwonderfulpie？“sheaskedme。
Irantothenearestfencecorner，andlaidtheshingleonthegnarledrootsofaJohnnyAppleseedappletree。ThenIsetonefootonthearchofthePrincess’instepandheldupmyhands。
OnesecondIthoughtshewouldnotliftme，thenextIwasonherlevelandherlipsmetmineinatouchlikevelvetwovenfromthreadsofflame。Thenwithaturnofherstoutlittlewrist，shedroppedme，andastreakwentupourroad。Nothingsoamazingandsoimportanteverhadhappenedtome。Itwasanoccasionthatdemandedsomethingunusual。Tocry，“PraisetheLord！“wasonlytorepeatanhourlyphraseatourhouse；thisdemandedsomethingoutoftheordinary，soIsaidjustexactlyasfatherdidthedaythebrownmarebalkedwiththelastloadofseedclover，whenabigstormwasbreaking——“JupiterAmmon！“
WhenIhadcalmeddownsoIcould，Iclimbedthefence，andreachedthroughacrackforthepie。AsIfollowedthecool，dampfurrow，andLaddie’swhistle，clearasthelark’sabovethewheat，thrilledme，Iwasalmostinsanewithjoy。Justjoy！
Purejoy！Ohwhatagoodworlditwas！——mostofthetime！Mostofthetime！Ofcourse，thereWEREPagetmeninit。Butanyway，THIScouldn’tbebeaten。IhadamessageforLaddiefromthePrincessthatwouldsendhimtotheseventhheaven，whereverthatwas；nooneatourhousespentanytimethinkingfartherthanthefirstone。Ihadherkiss，thatIdidn’tknowwhatwoulddotohim，andIalsohadabigpieceofjuicyrhubarbpienotyetentirelycold。Ifthatdidn’twipeoutthetroubleIhadmadeshowingtheoldcrestthing，nothingevercould。Ikneweventhen，thatmenwereprettyhardtosatisfy，butIwasquitecertainthatLaddiewouldbesatisfiedthatmorning。AsI
hurriedalongIwonderedwhetheritwouldbebettertogivehimmygiftfirst，orthePrincess’。Idecidedthatjoywouldkeep，whilethepiewascoldenough，withallthetimeIhadstopped；
andifItoldhimaboutherfirst，maybehewouldn’ttouchitatall，anditwasn’tsoeasyasitlookedtocarryittohimandneverevenoncestickinmyfingerforthetiniestlick——joywouldkeep；butIwasgoingtofeedhim；sowithshiningface，I
offeredthepieandstoodbacktoseejusthowhappyIcouldget。
“Mothersendit？“askedLaddie。
Peoplewerecuriousthatmorning，asifIhadahabitofstealingpie。Ionlytookpiecesofcutonesfromthecellarwhenmotherdidn’tcare。SoIexplainedagainthatCandacegaveittome，andIwasfreetobringit。
“OhIsee！“saidLaddie。
Afternearlytwoweeksofwork，thegrayshadsobereddownenoughtostandwithouttying；sohewoundthelinesaroundtheplowhandle，satonthebeam，andlaidasidehishat，havingafreshflowerintheband。Oncehestartedathing，hejustsimplywouldn’tgiveup。HeunbuttonedhisneckbanduntilIcouldseehisthroatwhereitwaswhitelikeawoman’s，tookouthisknifeandatethatpie。Ofcourseweknewbetterthantouseaknifeatthetable，buttherewasnootherwayinthefield。Heatethatpie，slowlyanddeliberately，andbetweenbiteshetalked。
Iwatchedhimwithawidegrin，wonderingwhatinthisworldheWOULDsay，inaminute。Idon’tthinkIeverhadquitesuchagoodtimeinallmylifebefore，andIneverexpecttoagain。Hewassaying：“Talkaboutnectarandambrosia！TalkaboutthefeastsofLucullus！TalkaboutfoodfortheGods！“
Iputonhishat，satonthegroundinfrontofhim，andwasthehappiestgirlintheworld，ofthatIamquitesure。Whenthelastmorselwasfinished，Laddielookedatmesteadily。
“Iwonder，“hesaid，“Iwonderifthere’sanothermanintheworldwhoisblestwithquitesuchaloving，unselfishlittlesisterasmine？“Thenheansweredhimself：“No！ByalltheGods，anthalf-Gods，Iswearit——No！“
ItwasgrandasaFourthofJulyorationorthemostexcitingpartwhentheBishopdedicatedourchurch。Icouldn’tholdinanothersecond，Icouldhearmyheartbeat。
“OhLaddie！“Ishouted，jumpingup，“thatpieisonlythebeginningofthegoodthingsIhavebroughtyou。Ihaveamessage，andagiftbesides，Laddie！“
“Amessageandagift？“Laddierepeated。“What！More？“
“TrulyIhaveamessageandagiftforyou，“Icried，“andLaddie——theyarefromthePrincess！“
Hiseyesraisedtominenow，andslowlyheturnedSabethany-like。
“FromthePrincess！“heexclaimed。“Amessageandagiftforme，LittleSister？YouneverwouldletLeonputyouuptoservemeatrick？“
Thathurt。HeshouldhaveKNOWNIwouldn’t，andbesides，“Leonfeelsjustasbadlyaboutthisasanyofus，“Isaid。“Haveyouforgottenheofferedtoplow，andletyoudotheclean，easywork？“
“Forgiveme！I’moveranxious，“saidLaddie，hisarmsreachingforme。“Goonandtellcarefully，andifyoutrulyloveme，don’tmakeamistake！“
Crowdingclose，myarmsaroundhisneck，hiscrisphairagainstmylips，Iwhisperedmystorysoftly，forthiswassuchafineandsplendidsecret，thatnoteventheshiningblackbirds，andthepertrobinsinthefurrowsweregoingtogettohearawordofit。BeforeIhadfinishedLaddiewasbreathingasFlosdoeswhenheracesherthelimit。Hesatmotionlessforalongtime，whileoverhisfaceslowlycreptabeautythatsurpassedthatofApolloinhisGreekbook。
“Andhergift？“
Itwasonlyabreath。
“Shehelpedmeup，andshesentyouthis，“Ianswered。
ThenIsetmylipsonhis，andheldthemthereasecond，tryingmylevelbesttogivehimherverykiss，butofcourseIcouldonlytry。
“Oh，Laddie，“Icried。“Hereyeswerelikewhenstarsshinedowninourwell！Hercheekswerelikemother’sdamaskroses！Shesmelledlikeflowers，andwhenherlipstouchedminelittlestickerswentalloverme！“
ThenLaddie’sarmsclosedaroundmeandIthoughtsureeveryboneinmybodywasgoingtobebroken；whenhefinishedtherewasn’tatraceofthatkissleftforme。RememberingitwouldbeallI’deverhave。ItmademeseewhatwouldhavehappenedtothePrincessifshehadbeenthere；anditwasanawfulpityforhertomissit，becausehe’dsoberdownalotbeforehereachedher，butIwassureasshootingthathewouldn’tbesocrazyastokissherhandsagain。Peterwasn’tapatchingtohim！
ThatnightLaddierodetoPryors’。WhenhebroughtFlostothegateyoucouldseetheshadowofyourfaceonhershiningflank；
hermaneandtailwerelikeravelledsilk，herhoofsbrightaspolishedhorn，andhermuzzlewascleanasaribbon。Ibrokeoneofthoserankgreensproutsfromthesnowballbushandbrushedawaytheflies，soshewouldn’tfret，stamp，andthrowdustonherself。ThenLaddiecame，freshfromatubbing，starchedlinen，dressedinhisnewridingsuit，andwearingtophatandgauntlets。HelookedtheveryhandsomestIeverhadseenhim；
andatthesametime，heseemedtremblingwithtenderness，andburstingwithpower。Goodnesssake！IbetthePrincesstookonegoodlookand“camedown“likeDavyCrockett’scoon。Motherwasonhisarmandshewalkedcleartothegatewithhim。
“LADDIE，AREYOUSUREENOUGHTOGO？“Iheardheraskhimwhisper-
like。
“SUREASDEATH！“Laddieanswered。