The Captain and the Major were both fully stiff for working in the yards, but their places were well supplied by Sam and Jim.

The two fathers, with the assistance of the stockman, and sometimes of the sons, used to get them into the yards, and then the two young men would go to work in a style I have never seen surpassed by any two of the same age.

Halbert would sometimes go into the yard and assist, or rather hinder; but he had to give up just when he was beginning to be of some use, as the exertion was too violent for an old wound he had.
Meanwhile Cecil despised all these things, and, though a capital hand among cattle, was now grown completely effeminate, hanging about the house all day, making, in fact, "rather a fool of himself about that girl," as Halbert thought, and thought, besides, "What a confounded fool she will make of herself if she takes that little dandy!--not that he isn't a very gentlemanlike little fellow, but that Sam is worth five hundred of him." One day, it so happened that every one was out but Cecil and Alice; and Alice, who had been listening to the noises at the stockyard a long while, suddenly proposed to go there.
"I have never been," she said; "I should so like to go! I know I am not allowed, but you need not betray me, and I am sure the others won't.

I should so like to see what they are about!" "I assure you, Miss Brentwood, that it is not a fit place for a lady." "Why not ?" Cecil blushed scarlet.

If women only knew what awkward questions they ask sometimes! In this instance he made an ass of himself, for he hesitated and stammered.
"Come along!" said she; "you are going to say that it is dangerous--( nothing was further from his thoughts); I must learn to face a little danger, you know.