“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。“