You see , I have n't much of a gift so to speak for business , Mattie , and it takes me so long to get worked into an understanding of a business or trade that I 'm generally asked to quit before you might say I 've really commenced . It 's been a mighty happy summer for me , though I ca n't say I 've done much in the selling line except to you , Mattie . What with your kindness and these little visits you 've been good enough to let me make every week , I feel I may say it 's been the happiest summer of my life , and I 'm never going to forget it , but as I said , it 's time for me to be moving on elsewhere and finding something else to do . '' `` There is something for you to do right here -- if you will do it , '' said Mattie faintly . For a moment she felt as if she could not go on ; Jed and the garden and the scarf of late asters whirled around her dizzily . She held by the sweet-pea trellis to steady herself . `` I -- I said a terrible thing to Selena the other day . I -- I do n't know what I 'll do about it if -- if -- you do n't help me out , Jed . '' `` 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 XXXXX he might have made it much more eloquent and romantic than it was .
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