England
would rise up and exult if she had a man in line with Laddie's body,
blood and brain, to set on her throne. This talk about class and
social position makes me sick. Men are men, and Laddie is as much
above the customary timber found in kings and princes, physically and
mentally, as the sky is above the earth. Talk me no talk about class!
If I catch it coming from any of mine, save you, I will beat it out of
them. He has admitted he's in love with the girl; the real question
is, whether she's fit to be his wife."

"I should say she appears so," said father.

"Drat appearances!" cried mother. "When it's a question of lifetime
misery, and the soul's salvation of my son, if things go wrong, I've no
time for appearances. I want to know!"

He might have known he would make her angry when he laughed. She
punched the pillow, and wouldn't say another word; so I went to sleep,
and didn't miss anything that time.

Next morning at breakfast Laddie was beaming, and father hardly waited
to ask the blessing before he inquired: "Well, how did you make it,
son?"

Laddie laughed and answered: "Altogether, it might have been much
worse."

That was all he would say until Miss Amelia started to school, then he
took me on his lap and talked as he buttoned my coat.

"Thomas met me at the gate," he said, "and held my horse while I went
to the door. One of their women opened it, and I inquired for Mr.
Pryor. She said he was in the field looking at the horses, so I asked
for Miss Pryor. She came in a minute, so I gave her the branch, told
her about it, and offered the jelly and cake for her mother. The
Princess invited me to enter. I told her I couldn't without her
father's permission, so I went to the field to see him. The dogs were
with him and he had the surprise of his life when his man-eaters rolled
at my feet, and licked my hands."

"What did he say?" chuckled father.

"Told Thomas they'd been overfed and didn't amount to a brass farthing;
to take them to the woods and shoot them. Thomas said he'd see to it
the very first thing in the morning, and then Mr. Pryor told him he
would shoot him if he did."

"Charming man to work for," said mother.

"Then I told him I'd been at the house to carry a little gift to his
wife and daughter, and to inquire if I might visit an hour, and as he
was not there, I had come to the field to ask him. Then I looked him
in the eye and said: 'May I?'

"'I'll warrant the