“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。