Lad-and-Girl Love Summary

Paul's recovery from the pneumonia is slow but in the spring, he is able to walk once more to the Leiver farm where he and Miriam Leiver become close. Miriam has the same aesthetic and spiritual sensibilities as Paul and she longs to have a different future from the typical destiny of becoming a farm wife. Paul encourages her willingness to learn and teaches her algebra, much to the chagrin of her brothers who think it is time wasted on a mere girl.

Neither Paul nor Miriam has ever had an intimate relationship with someone of the opposite sex and they fight feelings that they cannot explain. Paul sometimes becomes irrationally irritated at Miriam and avoids her for days at a time but is always drawn back to her. Mrs. Morel can sense what is happening between the two young people...