The old love had wakened to life in her heart ; she could not let Jed go out of her life again , leaving her to the old loneliness . If Jed went away everything would be flat , stale , and unprofitable . She knew him to be at heart the kindest , most gentle of human beings , and the mere fact of his having been unsuccessful , even what some of his old neighbours might call stupid , did not change her feelings toward him in the least . He was Jed -- that was sufficient for her , and she had business capability enough for both , when it came to that . Mattie began to drop hints . But Jed would not take them . True , once or twice he thought that perhaps Mattie did care a little for him yet . But it would not do for him to take advantage of that . `` No , I just could n't do that , '' he told the pony . `` I worship the ground that woman treads on , but it ai n't for the likes of me to tell her so , not now . Get up , my nag , get up . This has been a mighty pleasant summer with that visit to look forward to every week . 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 XXXXX romance , and surely the man did n't expect her to ask him to marry her .
If at for in of on than that to toward