CHAPTERXII
SEED-TIME
ThedayafterBigMack\'sfuneral，RanaldwasbusypolishingLizette\'sglossyskin，beforethestabledoor。Thiswashisfavoriteremedyforgloomythoughts，andRanaldwasfullofgloomythoughtsto-day。Hisfather，thoughgoingaboutthehouse，wasstillweak，andworsethanall，wasfrettinginhisweakness。Hewasoppressedwiththeterriblefearthathewouldneveragainbeabletodoaman\'swork，andRanaldknewfromthedarklookinhisfather\'sfacethatdayandnightthedesireforvengeancewasgnawingathisheart，andRanaldalsoknewsomethingofthebitternessofthisdesirefromthefiercelongingthatlaydeepinhisown。Someday，whenhisfingerswouldbefeelingforLeNoir\'sthroat，hewoulddrinklongandfullythatsweetdraughtofvengeance。Heknew，too，thatitaddedtothebitternessinhisfather\'shearttoknowthat，inthespring\'sworkthateverywarmdaywasbringingnearer，hecouldtakenopart；andthatwaspartlythecauseofRanald\'sgloom。Withtheslow-movingoxen，hecouldhardlyhopetogettheseedinintime，andtheyneededthecropthisyearifevertheydid，forlastyear\'sinterestonthemortgagewasstillunpaidandthenextinstallmentwasnearlydue。
AshewasputtingthefinishingtouchesuponLisette\'ssatinskin，YankeedroveuptotheyardwithhisFoxhorseandbuckboard。Hisboxwasstrappedonbehind，andhisblankets，rolledupinabundle，filledtheseatbesidehim。
\"Mornin\'，\"hecalledtoRanald。\"Purtyfineshine，that，andpurtyfinemare，allround，\"hecontinued，walkingaboutLisetteandnotingadmiringlyherbeautifulproportions。