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“Surgeretento！“readMr。Pryor，fromthelittleshield。“Fourshells！Madame，Iknowmenwhowouldgivetheirlivestoownthis，andtohavebeenbornwiththerighttowearit。Itcametoyourhusbandinstraightline？“
“Yes，“saidmother，“butgenerationsback。Heneverworeit。Heneverwould。Heonlysavesitforthechildren。“
“Itgoestoyoureldestson？“
“Byrights，Isupposeitshould，“saidmother。“Butfathermentionedittheothernight。Hesaidnoneofhisboyshadgoneashetriedtoinfluencethem，unlessLaddiedoesnowinchoosinglandforhisfuture，andifhedoes，hisfatherisinclinedtoleaveittohim，andIagree。AtourdeathitgoestoLaddieI
amquitesure。“
“Well，Ihope——Ihope，“saidMr。Pryor，“thattheyoungmanhasthewittounderstandwhatthiswouldmeantohiminEngland。“
“Hiswitisjustaboutlevelwithhisfather’s，“saidmother。
“HeneverhasbeeninEngland，andmostprobablyheneverwillbe。Idon’tthinkitmeansarapmoretoLaddiethanitdoestomyhusband。Laddieissobusydevelopingthemanhoodborninhim，hehasnotimetochasetherainbowofreflectedglory，andnobeliefinitsstabilityifhewalkedinitslight。ThechildofmyfamilytowhomthattrinketreallymeanssomethingisLittleSister，here。WhenLeoncameinwiththethief，Ithoughtheshouldhaveit；butafterall，sheisthestaunchestlittleCrusaderIhave。“
Mr。Pryorlookedmeoverwithmuchinterest。
“Yes，yes！Nodoubt！“hesaid。“Butthemaleline！Thispricelesstreasureshoulddescendtooneofthemaleline！ToonewhosenamewillremainStanton！ToLaddiewouldbebest，nodoubt！Nodoubtatall！“
“Wewillthinkaboutit，“saidmotherserenelyasMr。Pryorarosetogo。
Heapologizedforstayingsolong，andmothersaidithadn’tbeenlong，andaskedhimthenicestevertocomeagain。Shewalkedinthesunlightwithhimandpointedoutthechestnuts。Sheaskedwhathethoughtofalineoftreestoshadetheroad，andtheydiscussedwhetherthepleasuretheywouldgiveinsummerwouldpayforthedampnesstheywouldholdinwinter。Theywanderedaroundtheyardandintothegarden。Shesentmetobringaknife，trowel，andpaper，sowhenhestartedforhome，hewascarryingaloadofcuttings，androotstoplant。
Whenfathercamefromtownthatevening，atthefirstsightofhim，shewentstraightintohisarms，herfacebeaming；shehadbeenlikeasunallthatday。Someofitmusthavebeenjoycarriedoverfromyesterday。
“PraiseGod，thewedgeisin！“shecried。
Fatherheldhertight，strokedherhair，andbegansmilingwithouthavingtheleastideawhy，butheverywellknewthatwhateverpleasedherlikethatwasgoingtobegoodnewsforhimalso。
“Whathashappened，mother？“heasked。
“Mr。Pryorcameoverabouttheroadandbridgetax，andohPaul！
I’vesaideverywordtohimI’vebeenburstingtosayfromtheverystart。Everysingleword，Paul！“
“Howdidhetakeit？“
“Timewilltell。Anyway，heheardit，allofit，andhewentbackcarryingaloadofthingstoplant。Onlythinkofthat！
Oncehebeginsplanting，andwatchingthingsgrow，thehomefeelingisboundtocome。Itellyou，Paul，thewedgeisin！OhI’msohappy！“
CHAPTERXIV
TheCrestofEastbrooke“Sow；——andlookonward，upward，Wherethestarrylightappears，——
Where，inspiteofcoward’sdoubting，Oryourownheart’stremblingfears，YoushallreapinjoytheharvestYouhavesownto-dayintears。“
Anyobjectionstomybeginningtobreakgroundonthewesteightyto-day？“askedLaddieoffatheratbreakfastMondaymorning。
“Ihadthoughtwewouldcommenceontheeastforty，whenplanningthework。“
“SohadI，“saidLaddie。“ButsinceIthoughtthat，averyparticularreasonhasdevelopedformybeginningtoplowthewesteightyatonce，andthereisacharminglittledittyIfeelstronglyimpelledtowhistleeverystepoftheway。“
Fatherlookedathimsharply，andso，Ithink，didallofus。
Andbecausewelovedhimdeeply，wesawthathisfacewasatriflepaleforhim；hiscleareyestroubled，inspiteofhislaughingway。Heknewwewerestudyinghimtoo，buthewouldn’thavesaidanythingthatwouldmakeuslookandquestionifhehadmindedourdoingit。ThatwasexactlylikeLaddie。Hemeantitwhenhesaidhehatedasecret。Hesaidtherewasnoplaceonearthforamantolookforsympathya
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