he made fun, the worse he was hurt. I
opened my mouth to say I did it, I had to, but Leon began to talk.

"Well, I think she's smart!" he cried. "If she was going to give you
the mitten, why didn't she do it long ago?"

"She had to find out first whether there were a possibility of her
wanting to keep it," said Laddie.

"You're sure you are all signed, sealed, and delivered on this plowing
business, are you?" asked Leon.

"Dead sure!" said Laddie.

"All right, if you like it!" said Leon. "None for me after college!
But say, you can be a farmer and not plow, you know. You go trim the
trees, and work at cleaner, more gentlemanly jobs. I'll plow that
field. I'd just as soon as not. I plowed last year and you said I did
well, didn't you, father?"

"Yes, on the potato patch," said father. "A cornfield is a different
thing. I fear you are too light."

"Oh but that was a year ago!" cried Leon.

He pushed back his chair and went to father.

"Just feel my biceps now! Most like steel!" he boasted. "A fellow can
grow a lot in a year, and all the riding I've been doing, and all the
exercise I've had. Cert' I can plow that meadow."

"You're all right, shaver," said Laddie. "I'll not forget your offer;
but in this case it wouldn't help. Either the Princess takes her
medicine or I take mine. I'm going to live on land: I'm going to plow
in plain sight of the Pryor house this week, if I have to hire to Jacob
Hood to get the chance. May I plow, and may I take the grays, father?"

"Yes!" said father roundly.

"Then here goes!" said Laddie. "You needn't fret, mother. I'll not
overheat them. I must give a concert simultaneous with this plowing
performance, and I'm particular about the music, so I can't go too
fast. Also, I'll wrap the harness."

"Goodness knows I'm not thinking about the horses," said mother.

"No, but if they turned up next Sunday, wind-broken, and with nice
large patches of hair rubbed from their sides, you would be! If you
were me, would you whistle, or vocalize to start on?"

Mother burst right out crying and laid her face all tear-wet against
him. Laddie kissed her, and wiped away the tears, teased her, and soon
as he could he bolted from the east door; but I was closest, so I saw
plainly that his eyes were wet too. My soul and body! AND I HAD DONE
IT! I might as well get it over.

"I showed Mr. Pryor the trinket," I said.

"How did you come to do that?" asked father sternl