“Perhaps the Government would do this,” said Adelaide, “if the Secretary of Agriculture would recommend it.”

“I have heard of the ‘big if,’” Percy replied slowly, “but I am afraid this if will beat the record for bigness.  His soil theorists continue to assure him that soils do not wear out, no matter how heavily cropped, if they are only rotated and cultivated; and to support their theories they have forsaken the data from the most carefully conducted and long continued scientific investigations, and indulged in a game of guessing that the increasing productiveness of a few small countries of Europe is not due to any necessary addition of plant food.

“But here is the depot, and I have taken almost an hour to drive three miles.  If I had hurried, you might have been back home by this time.  I am afraid I have been selfish in allowing the team to walk nearly all of the way, but they will at least be fresh for the home trip which you promised to make in less than twenty minutes, I remember.  Now if you will hold the lines, I will run into the store to get the thread.  I remember the kind; I often do such errands for mother.”

“I will wait while you get your ticket and find out if the train is on time,” said Adelaide, as Percy returned with the thread.

“At least fifty minutes late,” he reported, “and the agent said he was glad of it for he would need about that time to make out such a long-jointed ticket as I want.  I am rather glad too, for I can watch you to the turn in the road on the hill, which must be a mile or more, and I will time you.  You can have six minutes to make that corner.”

“You mean I can have six minutes to get out of sight,” she suggested.

“I think you are out of sight,” he ventured.

Adelaide reddened.  “I shall have to tell mother what slang you use,” she said.

“I hope you will,” he retorted, “for I have watched her watch you and I am sure she will agree with me.  But I do feel that I owe you a sincere apology for taking up the time we have had together with this long discussion of the things that are of such special interest to me.  I have been alone with my mother so much and she is always so ready and so able, I may add, to discuss any sort of business matter that I fear I have been forgetful of your forbearance.”

“But you really have not,” Adelaide replied.  “I keep books for papa, and I am very much interested in these social and economic questions which are so fundamental to the perpetuity of our State and National prosperity.  I have been both entertained and instructed by these discussions; and I might say, honored, too, that you do not consider me too young and foolish to talk of serious subjects.”

“I am sure it is kind of you to make good excuses for me.  You have at any rate relieved my mind of some burden, but I am sure you are the only woman I have ever known, except my mother, who could endure discussions of this sort.  I have so greatly enjoyed the few short visits I have had with you.  I wish I might write to you and I shall be so much interested to learn what success your father has if he begins a system of soil improvement.  Would it be presuming to hope that I might hear from you also?”