Virginia shook her head. "I don't consider it wise," she said; "it's setting too bad a precedent." "I believe I'd let her do it just this once, as it's an emergency," suggested Amy, in her quiet way. "Well, maybe for just this once," Virginia grudgingly consented. A shining bucket was produced, and Isabel stepped toward the heifer. Jeems's face was once more transformed, irradiated. "Now you hold her," said Isabel to Fult. "Not that I'm a bit afraid. I can ride any horse I ever saw; but I'm not so used to cows." She approached carefully, spoke to the heifer, rubbed down her flank, and at last gently grasped a teat. This she squeezed periodically and persistently for a long while. Not a drop of milk appeared. "Why, there's something the matter with this cow," she said at last. "I believe she's a dry one." "No, granny said she was giving three straight gallons a day right along," said Fult; "and to not fail to milk her a single time." Isabel tried another teat, then conscientiously made the rounds of all. "Maybe she's just too excited to have any milk to-day," said Virginia. "I've heard that cows are extremely nervous creatures." "Yes, that must be it," said Isabel. At last she rose, reluctant to give up, but forced to admit that she could do nothing. Jeems's expression was now one of utter bewilderment. But he was ready to accept the explanation offered--a cow-brute was equal to anything. A small boy of eleven or twelve, who had been standing near all the time, digging his toes into the earth, spoke up laconically. "Anybody with eyes could see she's got milk." "Well, how can you tell, Billy?" asked Virginia. "Because I know cows. I've holp maw milk a many of a time, and Lethie, too. I don't care if hit hain't a man's job, I've holp 'em when they was sick or busy. Here, you fotched-on women don't know nothing; gimme that air bucket, and a apern and sunbonnet, and I'll show you. Of course, she wouldn't lemme come a-nigh her in breeches." The nurse lent her large apron, Amy her white sunbonnet, and Billy, retiring to the cooking-tent to put them on, soon emerged, hit the cow a sharp lick on the hip, bawled "Saw!" half a dozen times, squatted down, put out small dirty hands, and in an instant two large jets of milk were foaming into the pail. "I knowed hit," commented Billy, scornfully; "I got my opinion of a passel of women that hain't able to milk a cow betwixt 'em!" The women looked on in solemn relief. And Jeems? He swept the six strange women with a slow glance, in which indignation, disgust, and anguish struggled for supremacy; then, turning on his heel, strode rapidly down the hill. "Not nary one of 'em able to milk a cow!" he exclaimed to himself over and over, as he descended; and later, as he rode down Troublesome: "Not nary single one! Not even," with a groan, "that air youngest and prettiest!"