`` I 'll do anything I can , '' said Jed , with hearty sympathy . `` You know that , Mattie . What is the trouble ? '' His kindly voice and the good will and affection beaming in his honest blue eyes gave Mattie renewed courage to go on with her self-imposed and most embarrassing task , although before she ended her voice shook and dwindled away to such a low whisper that Jed had to bend his head close to hers to hear what she was saying . `` I -- I said -- she goaded me into saying it , Jed -- slighting and slurring -- jeering at me because you were going away . I just got mad , Jed -- and I told her you were n't going -- that you and I -- that we were to be -- married . '' `` Mattie , did you mean that ? '' he cried . `` If you did , I 'm the happiest man alive . I did n't dare persoom -- I did n't s ` pose you thought anything of me . But if you do -- and if you want me -- here 's all there is of me , heart and soul and body , forever and ever , as I 've been all my life . '' Thinking over this speech afterwards Jed was dissatisfied with it . He thought he might have made it much more eloquent and romantic than it was . But it served the purpose very well . It was convincing -- it came straight from his honest , stupid heart , and Mattie knew it . She held out her hands and Jed gathered her into his arms . It was certainly a most fortunate circumstance that the garden was well out of the range of Selena 's vision , or the sight of her sister and the remaining member of the despised Crane family repeating their foolish performance , which many years previous had resulted in Jed 's long banishment , might have caused her to commit almost any unheard-of act of spite as an outlet for her jealous anger . But only the few remaining garden flowers were witness to the lovers ' indiscretion , and they kept their own counsel after the manner of flowers , so Selena 's feelings were mercifully spared this further outrage . That evening Jed drove slowly away through the twilight , mounted for the last time on the tin-wagon . He was so happy that he bore no grudge against even Selena Ford .
As the pony climbed the poplar hill Jed drew a long breath and freed his mind to the surrounding landscape and to his faithful and slow-plodding steed that had been one of the main factors in this love affair , having patiently carried him XXXXX and from the abode of his lady-love throughout the summer just passed .
after as for if of on over than that to