But it 's about over now and you must tramp , Jed . '' Jed sighed . He remembered that it was more romantic than ever , but all at once this failed to comfort him . Romance up to a certain point was food ; beyond that it palled , so to speak . Jed 's romance failed him just when he needed it most . Mattie , meanwhile , was forced to the dismal conclusion that her hints were thrown away . Jed was plainly determined not to speak . Mattie felt half angry with him . She did not choose to make a martyr of herself to romance , and surely the man did n't expect her to ask him to marry her . `` I 'm sure and certain he 's as fond of me as ever he was , '' she mused . `` I suppose he 's got some ridiculous notion about being too poor to aspire to me . Jed always had more pride than a Crane could carry . Well , I 've done all I can -- all I 'm going to do . If Jed 's determined to go , he must go , I s ` pose . '' Mattie would not let herself cry , although she felt like it . She went out and picked apples instead . Mattie might have remained so and Jedediah 's romance might never have reached a better ending , if it had not been for Selena , who came over just then to help Mattie pick the golden russets . Fate had evidently destined her as Jed 's best helper . All summer she had been fairly goading Mattie into love with Jedediah and now she was moved to add the last spur . `` Jed Crane 's going away , I hear , '' she said maliciously .
`` Seems to me you 're bound to be jilted again , XXXXX . ''
Crane Jed Jedediah Mattie Selena love martyr point russets summer