As the summer waned and the long yellow leaves began to fall thickly from the willows in the Adams lane Jed began to talk of going out west again . Tin-peddling was not possible in winter , and he did n't think he would try it another summer . Mattie listened with dismay in her heart . All summer she had made much of Jed , by way of tormenting Selena . But now she realized what he really meant to her . 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 XXXXX a certain point was food ; beyond that it palled , so to speak .
at for from in of on than to toward with