."

"What awful language!" sighed Lyddy, unlocking the door. "I am sorry
you ever went to work in that millinery shop, 'Phemie. It has made your
mind--er--almost common!"

But 'Phemie only laughed.

If the Pritchett females were "at outs" with them, the men of the family
did not appear to be. At least, Cyrus and his son were at Hillcrest bright
and early on Monday morning, with two teams ready for plowing. Lyddy had
a serious talk with Mr. Pritchett first.

"Ya-as. That's good 'tater and truckin' land behind the barn. It's laid
out a good many years now, for it's only an acre, or so, and we never
tilled it for corn. It's out o' the way, kinder," said the elder Pritchett.

"Then I want that for a garden," Lyddy declared.

"It don't pay me to work none of this 'off' land for garden trucks," said
Cyrus, shortly. "Not 'nless ye want a few rows o' stuff in the cornfield
jest where I can cultivate with the hosses."

"But if you plant corn here, you must plant my garden, too," insisted
Lyddy, who was quite as obstinate as the old farmer. "And I'd like to have
a big garden, and plenty of potatoes, too. I am going to keep boarders
this summer, and I want to raise enough to feed them--or partly feed them,
at least."

"Huh! Boarders, eh? A gal like you!"

"We're not rich enough to sit with idle hands, and I mean to try and earn
something," Lyddy declared. "And we'll want vegetables to carry us over
winter, too."

Lucas had been listening with flushed and anxious face. Now he broke in
eagerly:

"You said I could till a piece for myself this year, Dad. Lemme do it up
here. There's a better chance to sell trucks in Bridleburg than there has
been. I'll plow and take care of two acres up here, if Miss Lyddy says so,
for half the crops, she to supply seed and fertilizer."

"Will--will it cost much, Lucas?" asked Lyddy, doubtfully.

"That land's rich, but it may be sour. Ain't that so, Dad? It won't take
so very much phosphate; will it?"

Cyrus was slower mentally than these eager young folk. He had to think
it over and discuss it from different angles. But finally he gave his
consent to the plan and advised his son and Lyddy how to manage the matter.

"You kin git your fertilizer on time--six or nine months--right here in
Bridleburg. That gives you a chance to raise your crop and market it
before paying for the fertilizer," he said. "You'll have to get corn
fertilizer, too, in the same way. But 'most ev'rybody else on