Finally, an anxious call came from below for Fult, and all in the tent went down, Jeems following at a little distance. Fult joined the group of women behind the cooking-tent. When Jeems arrived, he saw that they were gathered anxiously about the heifer. One of them, Virginia, was saying to Fult:-- "But how are we going to get her milked?" Fult shook his head. "I allowed, and granny allowed, all you women could milk--all the women-folks in this country can." "Milk? Why, I never did such a thing in my life! Down in the Blue Grass the women don't milk; the men do all the heavy work like that." Jeems stopped in his tracks. His jaw dropped. "I thought maybe you could milk her for us to-night, and until we could hire somebody for the job," continued Virginia, a little impatiently. Fult flushed. "Sorry I can't oblige you," he said; "I never in life undertook to milk a cow. Up in this country hit's allus a woman's job." "Do you mean to say you let your mother and sisters do rough work like milking all the time?" Fult laughed. "Maw wouldn't let me get in ten foot of her cow," he said. "Cows won't stand for hit in this country. They are used to women-folks and their ways, and don't want a man to come a-nigh 'em." "Hit's a fact," groaned Jeems inwardly, from the depths of experience. "You women know there hain't nothing I wouldn't do to pleasure you," continued Fult, gallantly. "If I knowed how to milk, I'd try hit, man's job or not. But a body can't learn all in a minute." "They can't, neither," protested Jeems, under his breath. "Can't a single one of you brought-on women milk a cow?" inquired Fult, looking in astonishment around the circle. One after another, Amy, the nurse, the kindergartner, the cooking teacher, the singing gal, admitted her ignorance. None had ever in her life tried to milk. Jeems's jaw was now permanently dropped, his eyes stared with amazed incredulity. "And even if some of them could milk," said Virginia, with a note of decision in her soft voice, "I shouldn't feel that I could permit them to do it. It's setting too bad an example. The thought of the women of this country doing all the milking shocks me inexpressibly, and one of the principal things I hope to teach them is that milking is _not_ a woman's job, and should be done always and entirely by the men." Jeems's countenance registered complete horror. At this instant, Isabel, the new arrival, spoke up. "The cow will have to be milked to-night by somebody," she said; "and though I never milked in my life, and do not approve of women milking, still I'd be glad to try this time, if you say so, Cousin Amy, and Miss Virginia. Of course, I live on a stock-farm,--papa has always raised thoroughbred horses and cattle,--and I've seen cows milked by the negro men thousands of times, and it does seem that I ought to be able to do it myself. If you'll give me a bucket, I'll be glad to try."