rly figure crosses the
threshold and enters the silent room.

After Peterkin's conversation with his son concerning his future wife,
Jerrie had grown rapidly in the old man's favor. It is true she had
neither name nor money, the latter of which was scarcely necessary in
this case, but he was not insensible to the fact that she possessed
other qualities and advantages which would be a help to the house of
Peterkin in its efforts to rise. No girl in the neighborhood was more
popular or more sought after than Jerrie, or more intimate with the
big-bugs, as he styled the St. Claires, and Athertons, and Tracys.
Jerrie would _draw_; Jerry would _boost_; and he found himself forming
many plans for the young couple, who were to occupy the south wing; and
in fancy he saw Arthur at Le Bateau half the time at least, while the
rest of the time the carriages from Grassy Spring, and Brier Hill, and
Tracy Park, were standing under the stone arch in front of the door.
How, then, was he disappointed, and enraged, too, when told by his son
that Jerrie had refused him?

Peterkin had been in Springfield nearly a week, and after his return
home had waited a little before broaching the subject to his son; so
that it was not until the morning before the day of the lawsuit that he
learned the truth by closely questioning Billy, who shielded and
defended Jerrie as far as possible.

'Not have you! Refused you! Don't love you! Don't care for money!
Thunderation! What does the girl mean? Is she crazy? Is she a fool? Is
she in love with some other idiot?'

'I th-think so, yes; th-though it did not occur to me then,' Billy
answered, very meekly; 'and if so she ca-can't care for me any mo-more
that I ca-can care for any other girl.'

'And you are a fool, too,' was the affectionate rejoinder. 'I'll be
dummed if you ain't a pair! Who is the lucky man? Not that dog Harold,
who is goin' to swear agin' us to-morrow? If it is, I b'lieve I'll shoot
him.'

'Father,' Billy cried in alarm, 'be quiet; if I can st-stand it, you
can.'

But Peterkin swore he wouldn't stand it. He'd do something, he didn't
know what; and all the morning he went about the house like a madman,
swearing at his wife, because she wasn't _up to snuff_, and couldn't hoe
her own with the 'ristocrats; swearing at Billy because he was a fool,
and so small that 'twas no wonder a bean-pole like Jerrie wouldn't look
at him, and swearing at Ann Eliza because her hair was so red, and
bec