"Fortunately, I know what's best for him," said Cora. "She makes me think she does," said the poet, still plaintively. Crane wanted to ask Cora where and how she had acquired this rather agreeable responsibility, but he had no opportunity before they were off. He and Cora started together, less, perhaps, from chivalry on Burton's part than because of his desire to watch the performance of the mare, but in the course of the run they became separated, and he finally jogged home alone. He dismounted in the stable-yard and stood watching one of the grooms loosening the saddle-girths, while he and the head man discussed the excellent conduct of his own horses as compared with the really pitiable showing of other people's, and debated whether the wretched deterioration in a certain Canadian bay horse ridden that day by the Master of Hounds was owing to naturally poor conformation on the part of the horse, or deplorable lack of judgment on the part of the rider. In the midst of these absorbing topics, Crane suddenly became aware that Smithfield was waiting for him at the gateway. He stopped short in what he was saying. "You wanted to speak to me, Smithfield?" "When you've finished, sir." Crane had finished, he said, and turned in the direction of the house with the butler at his side. "There's been a terrible disturbance at the house, sir, since you went out this morning." "Oh, my powers!" cried Burton. "What has been happening now?" Smithfield was stepping along, throwing out his feet and resting on the ball of his foot with the walk that Mrs. Falkener had so much admired. "Well, sir," he said, "the trouble has been between Mr. Tucker and Brindlebury." Crane groaned. "I don't defend the boy, sir. I fear he forgot his place." "Look here, Smithfield," said Crane, "candidly, now, what is the matter with all of you? You know you really are a very queer lot." Thus appealed to, Smithfield considered. "Well, sir," he said, "I think the trouble--as much as any one thing is the trouble--is that we're young, and servants oughtn't to be young. They should be strong, healthy, hard working, but not young; for youth means impulses, hopes of improvement, love of enjoyment, all qualities servants must not have." The man spoke entirely without bitterness, and Crane turning to him said suddenly: "Smithfield, what do you think about class distinctions?" For the first time, Smithfield smiled. "I think, sir," he said, "that if they were done away with, I should lose my job." "Well, by heaven, if I were you, then," cried Crane, with unusual feeling, "I'd get a job that wasn't dependent on a lie, for if I believe anything it is that all these dissimilarities between rich and poor, and men and women, and black and white, are pretty trivial as compared with their similarities. It's my opinion we are all very much alike, Smithfield," and Crane, as he spoke, was astonished at the passion for democracy that stirred within him.