Mattie had no answer ready . Selena went on undauntedly . `` You 've made a nice fool of yourself all summer , I vow . Throwing yourself at Jed 's head -- and he does n't want you , even with all your property . '' `` He does want me , '' said Mattie calmly . Her lips were very firm and her cheeks scarlet . `` He is not going away . We are to be married about Christmas , and Jed will take charge of the farm for me . '' `` Matilda Adams ! '' said Selena . It was all she was capable of saying . The rest of the golden russets were picked in a dead silence , Mattie working with an unusually high colour in her cheeks , while Selena 's thin lips were pressed so closely together as to be little else than a hair line . After Selena had gone home , sulking , Mattie picked on with a very determined face . The die was cast ; she could not bear Selena 's slurs and she would not . And she had not told a lie either . Her words were true ; she would make them true . All the Adams determination -- and that was not a little -- was roused in her . `` If Jed jilts me , he 'll do it to my face , clean and clever , '' she said viciously . When Jed came again he was very solemn . He thought it would be his last visit , but Mattie felt differently .
She had dressed herself XXXXX unusual care and crimped her hair .
After If about at for in of to while with