"Great punkins!" he exclaimed. "I wish I'd been there to have seen it."
"But what about the corn?" Douglas asked. "It didn't get much hoeing to-day."
"Never mind about the corn, John. Ye kin hoe it agin, but ye might never git another chance to roll Ben Stubbles in the dust. Ho, ho, that was a good one!"
When Nell left to return home, it was but natural that Douglas should accompany her. He asked permission to do so, and her acceptance brought a great joy to his heart.
The Jukes watched them as they walked toward the road.
"That's settled, all right," was Mrs. Jukes' comment.
"What?" Jake asked.
"Why, can't you see for yourself? They're deep in love with each other, that's what it is."
"Umph!" Jake grunted. "I never thought of it before. It takes a woman to see sich things. My, John'll git a prize if he hooks Nell. Strange that she takes to him, an' him only a hired man. Why, she's fit fer a parson's wife."
"I don't believe he's only a hired man," his wife replied.