The two arose and put out friendly hands, which Uncle Lot inspected and touched gingerly. Then, hanging his hoe in a crack in the chinking, he passed on through "t'other house," to wash. Returning, he seated himself on the porch at a safe distance, and after a dignified silence, began, with a cold gleam in his eye:-- "Women, I hear you come up from the level country." "Yes, from the Blue Grass." "Quite a ways from home you traveled?" "Yes, one day by train and a little over two by wagon." "Aim to stay quite a spell?" "Through July and August, we hope." "Like the looks of this country, hey?" "We think it beautiful." "Hit kindly does a body good to break away from home-ties now and then, and forget about 'em a while?" "Yes, indeed." "I allow you left your folks well?" "Quite well." "And they make out some way to do without you while you're gone?" "Oh, yes, very well indeed." "Hit's a lonesome time for a man-person to be left with the cooking and the young-uns on his hands. Mostly I don't favor women-folks traipsing over the world no great." "Not if they have husbands and children to leave behind. Though," added Virginia, "even a busy wife and mother is better for a little change, now and then, and ought to have it." Uncle Lot cast a sidelong, triumphant glance at Aunt Ailsie, and returned to the attack. "Quare notions is abroad nowadays," he remarked, "and women-folks is a-taking more freedom than allus sets well on 'em. Rutheny here, she never even stops to ax Link may she ride in to town--she jest ketches her a nag and lights out. Eh, law, and even my old woman is allus a-pining to see new sights, and werried of where she belongs at." "Maybe she's stayed at home too long--everybody needs a change of scene occasionally. We should love to take Aunt Ailsie down for a visit to us in the Blue Grass when we go back." "Women, I'd give my life to go!" fervently exclaimed Aunt Ailsie. Uncle Lot started up, his features working. "Never whilst I draw breath!" he declared; "I don't aim to see my woman toled off from the duties she tuck upon her when she tied up with me, and ramping around over creation with a passel of--of--of strange women. Men in the Blue Grass may put up with hit,--may _have_ to,--but I won't. Whilst I live, I'm the head of my house and my wife, and home she'll stay! And other women I could name would be a sight better off in their homes, too, with their rightful men!" Aunt Ailsie hastened to pour oil on the troubled waters. "You know well, paw, that I hain't never in life gone again' no wish of yourn, nor crossed you ary time in forty-six year. And I would die before I would go again' your idees. All I said was I would _like_ to go with the women; but the rael thought was fur from me. And hit's about time now for you to go feed the property, so's we can eat and get cleaned up afore dark. I allow," she ventured bravely, "these gals will maybe take the night with us."