And, after all, the future was uncertain, but the present certain: she had him to herself for the day.

She was close to him--so close, that she could feel him--and he was driving her out, and to those who loved her: she basked in the present delight, and looked as if she was being taken to heaven by an angel, instead of driving to Cairnhope by a gloomy young man, whom the passers-by envied, and wondered at his good luck in having such a companion.

She talked to him, and got the short answers of an absent man.

But she continued to make her little remarks occasionally, and, ere they reached Cairnhope, he found himself somehow soothed by her sex, her beauty, and her mellow, kindly voice.
As they drove up to the farm-house, he told her to hide her face a moment, for they didn't know who it was.
Martha ran out.

"Y'are welcome, y'are welcome; and so is your--Eh! Why it's our Jael.