"All right then, plow it!" he said. "What did she say?" asked mother. "Phew!" Laddie threw up both hands. "She must have been bottled some time on the subject. The ferment was a spill of considerable magnitude. The flood rather overwhelmed me, because it was so unexpected. I had been taking for granted that she accepted my circumstances and surroundings as she did me. But no, kind friends, far otherwise! She said last night, in the clearest English I ever heard spoken impromptu, that I was a man suitable for her friend, but I would have to change my occupation before I could be received on more than a friendly footing." "'On more than a friendly footing'?" repeated mother. "You have her exact words," said Laddie. "Kindly pass the ham." "What did you say?" "Nothing! I am going to plow the answer. Please don't object to my beginning this morning." "You try yourself all winter to get as far as you have, and then upset the bowl like this?" cried mother. "Softly, mummy, softly!" said Laddie. "What am I to do? I've definitely decided on my work. I see land and life, as you and father taught me, in range and in perspective far more than you've got from it. You had a first hand wrestle. The land I covet has been greatly improved already. I can do what I choose with it, making no more strenuous effort than plowing; and I am proud to say that I LOVE to plow. I like my feet in the soil. I want my head in the spring air. I can become almost tipsy on the odours that fill my nostrils. Music evolved by the Almighty is plenty good enough for me. I'm proud of a spanking big team, under the control of a touch or a word. I enjoy farming, and I am going to be a farmer. Plowing is one of the most pleasing parts of the job. Sowing the seed beats it a little, from an artistic standpoint, either is preferable to haying, threshing, or corn cutting: all are parts of my work, so I'm going to begin. Mother, I hope you don't mind if I take your grays. I'll be very careful; but the picture I present to my girl to-day is going to go hard with her at best, so I'd like to make it level best." He arose, went around and knelt beside mother. He took her, chair and all, in his arms: "Best of mothers! on my breast Lean thy head, and sink to rest." She quoted. Mother laughed. "Mammy," he asked bending toward her, "am I clean?" "You goose!" she said, putting her arms around him and holding him tight. "Gander love," said Laddie, turning up his face for a kiss. "Honest mother, you have been through nigh unto forty years of it, tell me, can a man be a farmer and keep neat enough not to be repulsive to a refined woman?" "Your father is the answer," said mother. "All of you know how perfectly repulsive he is and always has been to me." "'Repulsive,"' said father. "That's an ugly word!"