“Father got those for me,” said young Lockman. “He thought I'd be interested in agriculture.”
“Not very much,” said the other carelessly. “Here's Punch--what do you think of him?”
The occasion for this was a dog, the most hideously ugly object that Samuel had ever seen in his life. “I--I don't think I'd care for him,” he said hesitatingly.
“He's a Japanese bulldog,” observed the other. “He cost three thousand dollars.”
“Three thousand dollars!” gasped the boy in horror. “Why should anyone pay so much for a dog?”
“That's what he's worth,” said the other with a laugh.
They went to see the horses, which were housed in a palace of their own. There were innumerable rows of stalls, and a running track and endless acres of inclosures. “Why do you have so many horses?” asked Samuel.
“Father ran a stock farm,” said the other. “I don't have much time to give to it myself.”
“But who rides the horses?” asked Samuel.
“Well, I go in for sport,” replied Lockman. “I'm supposed to be quite a dab at polo.”
“I see,” said the boy--though to tell the truth he did not see at all, not having the least idea what polo was.
“If you're interested in horses, I'll have them find you something to do here,” Lockman went on.
“Oh, thank you,” said the boy with a thrill. “That will be fine!”
He could have spent all day in gazing at the marvels of this place, but his host was tired now and started back to the house. “It's lunch time,” he said. “Perhaps you are hungry again!”
They came out upon the piazza and sat down. And then suddenly they heard a clatter of hoofs and looked up. “Hello!” exclaimed the host. “Here's Glad!”
A horse was coming up the road at a lively pace. The rider was seated a-straddle, and so Samuel was slow to realize that it was a woman. It was only when he saw her wave her hand and call to them that he was sure.
She reined up her horse, and a groom who followed her took the rein, and she stepped off upon the piazza and stood looking at them. She was young and of extraordinary beauty. She was breathing fast, and her hair was blown about her forehead, and the glow of health was in her cheeks; and Samuel thought that she was the most beautiful object that he had ever beheld in all his life. He stared transfixed; he had never dreamed that anything so wonderful could exist in the world. He realized in a sudden glow of excitement what it was that confronted him. She was the female of this higher species; she was the superior and triumphant woman.