He's as smart as a whip, that young chap.

We all think a heap of him." Jed nodded, but made no comment.

The captain fidgeted with a button of his coat.

He turned toward the door, stopped, cleared his throat, hesitated, and then turned back again.
"Jed," he said, "has--has it seemed to you that--that he--that Charlie was--maybe--comin' to think consider'ble of--of my daughter--of Maud ?" Jed looked up, caught his eye, and looked down again.

Captain Sam sighed.
"I see," he said.