g most guys
around here have been homesick for, for a long time.... Maybe that's
what has been most of the trouble out here in the asteroids. Not enough
civilization. On Earth we were used to certain standards--in spite of
being rough enough there, too. Here, the traces got kicked over. But on
this side of Vesta, an idea begins to soak in: This used to be nice
country--blue sky, trees growing. Some of that is coming back, Neely.
And order with it. Because, deep in our guts, that's what we all want.
And fresh vegetables'll help.... Have another tomato, Neely. Or should
we call it enough, guys?"

[Illustration: _Endlich's voice was steely ... "Sorry to do things like
this--but it's your way!"_]

"Neely, you ain't gonna quit now?" somebody guffawed. "You're doin'
almost good. Haw-haw!"

Neely's face was purple. His eyes were bloodshot. His mouth hung partly
open. "Gawd--no--please!" he croaked.

An embarrassed hush fell over the crowd. Back home on Earth, they had
all been more-or-less average men. Finally someone said, expressing the
intrusion among them of the better dignity of man:

"Aw--let the poor dope go...."

Then and there, John Endlich sold what was left of his first bushel of
tomatoes. One of his customers--the once loud-mouthed Schmidt--even
said, rather stiffly, "Pun'kins--you're all right."

And these guys were the real roughnecks of the mining camp.

Is it necessary to mention that, as they were leaving, Neely lost his
pride completely, soiling the inside of his helmet's face-window so that
he could scarcely see out of it? That, amid the raucous laughter of his
companions, which still sounded slightly self-conscious and pitying.
Thus Alf Neely sank at last to the level of helpless oblivion and
nonentity.

* * * * *

A week of Vestal days later, in the afternoon, Rose and the kids came to
John Endlich, who was toiling over his cucumbers.

"Their name is Harper, Pop!" Bubs shouted.

"And they've got three children!" Evelyn added.

John Endlich, straightened, shaking a kink out of his tired back. "Who?"
he questioned.

"The people who are going to be our new neighbors, Johnny," Rose said
happily. "We just picked up the news on the radio--from their ship,
which is approaching from space right now! I hope they're nice folks.
And, Johnny--there used to be country schools with no more than five
pupils...."

"Sure," John Endlich said.

Something felt warm around h