30 The Life Worth hiving 



been out of the lawn for two weeks. She 

 scorned to follow the carriage and point birds 

 for women and children, who were incapable 

 of appreciating her genius. But when I 

 came — such capers, such exclamations of 

 love and joy! She cried — literally cried big 

 tears of joy — laid her head against mine, and 

 between her sobs told me I had missed the 

 greatest quail season ever known in Virginia. 

 She said the quail were so thick they were 

 coming into the yard, and that nobody had 

 sense enough to go after them. She begged 

 me to go outside the gate with her, in season 

 or out, she didn't care, and she would show 

 me. 



When I drove out with my wife, Becky 

 was simply beside herself w T ith joy. She 

 danced and capered around the carriage and 

 said with a smile : 



"Now just watch me. I'll show you a 

 dozen between here and the county road!" 



We had barely passed through the gate, 



