“That’s love,” said Rose; “and I heard Mr. Pepperill say that Noah had a pain under his ribs.”
“It’s like a hot pertater lodged here,” said Noah; “I can’t get no rest at all from it.”
“That’s love also; I know it. I’ve had the same till Jan came to his senses.”
“And I don’t seem to take no interest in the farm; do I, mother?” asked Noah.
“Indeed you don’t, Noah.”
“That also is love,” said Rose; “we’ll soon put that to rights.”
“I thought it was liver,” observed the mother; “and that blue pill”’
“Oh, nothing of the sort,” interrupted Rose. “I know all the symptoms: hot potato, distaste for biled bacon, and indifference to farm affairs’it’s love; I had it all badly till Jan came round. Love turns heavy on the chest, if disappointed. That’s what Noah feels under his ribs. Come on, Noah, take your hat, and we will go to the Cellars together.”
Noah complied with as much alacrity as he was capable of displaying. He was a docile youth; he had fallen in love with Kitty, partly at Rose’s bidding, partly out of compunction at his conduct at the fair.
That evening had closed in rapidly. There were dense clouds overhead, so that the twilight was cut off, also all danger of dew, as Rose at once pointed out to Mrs. Flood. As, however, the mother feared her dear boy might get wet in the event of rain, Noah was induced to take a greatcoat.