I believe she would have let me kiss her had I wanted to then.
"I guess this ends my education, and being a lawyer, and all that," I said gloomily, as we drew near the Rudge farm. "Dad will never forgive this. He thinks rum is the best road to hell, the same as the old preacher. He won't sell a glass of cider in the store."
"There are other kinds of work," she answered. "You can show them just the same you know what's right."
"But you'll never marry a man who isn't educated," I said boldly.
"I'll never marry a man who hasn't principles—and religion," she replied without a blush.
"So I must be good and pious, as well as educated?"
"You must be a man"—and her lips curved ironically—"and now you are just a boy."
But I held her hand when I helped her from the buggy, and I believe she would have let me kiss her had I wanted to then.