thinking, past humorous.

Then he laid a hand upon each of the boy's little homespun shoulders.
"Go and see Doctor Prescott, and tell him your plan, and--if he does
not approve of it, come here and let me know," he said, and seriously
enough to suit even Jerome's jealous self-respect.

"Yes, sir," said Jerome.

"And," added the Squire, "you had better go a little after noon--you
will be more likely to find him at home."

"Yes, sir."

"Are you afraid to go out alone after dark?" asked the Squire.

"No, sir," replied Jerome, proudly.

"Well, then," said the Squire, "come and see me this evening, and
tell me what Doctor Prescott says."

"Yes, sir," replied Jerome, and bobbed his head, and turned to go.
The Squire moved before him with his lounging gait, and opened the
door for him with ceremony, as for an honored guest.

Out in the south entry, with her back against the opposite wall, well
removed from the south-room door, that she might not hear one word
not intended for her ears, stood Lucina waiting, with one little
white hand clinched tight, as over a treasure. When her father came
out, following Jerome, she ran forward to him, pulled his head down