Round his neck was a coarse but white shirt frill; and over it fell, carefully arranged, the bright curls of his bonny hair.

Easily might Jael or any one else have "mistaken" him, as she cuttingly said, for a young gentleman.
She looked very indignant, though, when she found out the aforesaid "mistake." "What may be thy business here ?" she said, roughly.
"Abel Fletcher sent me on a message." "Out with it then--don't be stopping with Phineas here.

Thee bean't company for him, and his father don't choose it." "Jael!" I cried, indignantly.

John never spoke, but his cheek burnt furiously.
I took his hand, and told him how glad I was to see him--but, for a minute, I doubt if he heard me.
"Abel Fletcher sent me here," he repeated, in a well-controlled voice, "that I might go out with Phineas; if HE objects to my company, it's easy to say so." And he turned to me.

I think he must have been satisfied then.
Jael retired discomfited, and in her wrath again dropped half of her cabbages.