Jedediah 's heart was beating furiously under his checks . `` What a fool you are , Jed Crane , '' he told himself . `` You used to be a young fool , and now you 're an old one . Sad , that ! Get up , my nag , get up . It 's a poor lookout for a man of your years , Jed . Do n't get excited . It ai n't the least likely that Mattie Adams is here yet . She 's married and gone years ago , no doubt . It 's probable there 's no Adamses here at all now . But it 's romantic , yes , it 's romantic . It 's splendid . Get up , my nag , get up . '' The Adams place itself was not unromantic . The house was a large , old-fashioned white one , with green shutters and a front porch with Grecian columns . These were thought very elegant in Amberley . Mrs. Carmody said they gave a house such a classical air . In this instance the classical effect was somewhat smothered in honeysuckle , which rioted over the whole porch and hung in pale yellow , fragrant festoons over the rows of potted scarlet geraniums that flanked the green steps . Beyond the house a low-boughed orchard covered the slope between it and the main road , and behind it there was a revel of colour betokening a flower garden . Jedediah climbed down from his lofty seat and walked dubiously to a side door that looked more friendly , despite its prim screen , than the classical front porch .
As he drew near he saw a woman sitting XXXXX the screen -- a woman who rose as he approached and opened the door .
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