“They are not fit for travelling yet,” Ben answered. “But you worried me into coming. It is better to give in to you and have peace.” “Grumble away as much as you like,” Holles answered; “I would rather have any amount of your grumblings than one of your fowls. What on earth do you do to your fowls to turn them out so thin? You might make your fortune by exhibiting them. They’re quite unique!” “Don’t chatter so much, and look out where you are going,” said Ben, pretending not to notice Jesse’s chaff. Holles laughed, and drove on silently for a few minutes. Then he said: “That’s a bad piece of luck about Bob Strafford’s reservoir. Poor fellow! He will take it dreadfully to heart. And I am sorry for her too. It must be lonely for her in this part of the country.” Ben made no answer. “I can’t for the life of me understand about women,” Holles continued. “If I were a fine girl like that, nothing on earth would induce me to come out to this kind of existence. Any one can see that she is out of place here.” “The women have a bad time of it in a new country,” Ben said slowly. “If you talk to any one of them, it is nearly always the same story, home-sickness and desolation, desolation and home-sickness. I remember last year up north meeting such a handsome woman. Her husband had made quite a good thing out of Lima beans, and they had everything they wanted. But she told me that she did not know how to live through the first ten years of home-sickness.” “That’s a cheerful prospect for Mrs. Strafford,” said Holles. “She will probably work her way through, as they all do,” answered Ben. “Women are wonderful creatures.” “You always have something to say for women,” said Holles. “You ought to go back to the old country, and help them get the suffrage and all that sort of thing. You are lost to them out here. How my maiden aunt, who only lives for the Cause, as she calls it, would adore you!” Ben smiled, and then said quietly: “Robert’s ranch has been put back at least three years. I don’t suppose Mrs. Strafford realises that yet. But it is very hard on her, and cruel for him. He has worked untiringly, poor chap, and used every means in his power to reach success. Well, I simply cannot speak of it, Jesse. It chokes me. Look out now. There’s something ahead. Don’t go an inch out of the road, or we shall get mired.” As they came nearer, they saw that a cart, heavily laden with large bales of hay, had stuck in the mud. Two men were leading the horses away. “Can we pass?” Ben asked of them. “There’s just enough room to manage it,” one of them answered. “We’ll try for it,” said Holles. “Get up, boys!”