d you have? Ann 'Liza
can't up and say "Marry me, Tom;" nor I can't up and say, "Thomas, marry
my daughter," can I? But if you want to marry her, say so like a man,
and I swan I'll meet you like a man, and a father!'

Alas for Tom! he had nothing left him to do except to say that he wished
to marry Ann Eliza, and that he would come the next evening and tell her
so.

It was Peterkin who answered his ring when he presented himself at the
door of Le Bateau, Peterkin more inflated and pompous than ever as he
shook the young man's hand, calling him Thomas--a name which aggravated
him beyond all description--and telling him to go right into the parlor,
where he would find Ann 'Liza waitin' for him, and where they could bill
and coo as much as they liked, for he and May Jane would keep out of the
way and give 'em a chance.

Even then Tom cast one despairing glance toward the door, with a half
resolve to bolt; but Peterkin was behind him, pushing him on to his
fate, which, after all, was not so very bad when he came to face it.
There was nothing low, or mean, or coarse about Ann Eliza, who, but for
her very bright red hair, would have been called pretty by some, and who
was by no means ill-looking, even with her red hair, as she stood up to
receive her lover, with a droop in her eyes, and a flush on her cheeks;
for she knew the object of his visit, into which he plunged at once. He
did not say that he loved her, but he asked her in a straightforward
way to be his wife, and then waited for her answer, which was not long
in coming, for Ann Eliza was no dissembler. She loved Tom Tracy with her
whole soul, and felt herself honored in being sought by him.

'Oh, Tom!' she said, while the tears shone in her eyes, which Tom
noticed for the first time were large and clear and very blue. 'It does
not seem possible for you to love me, but, if you really do, I will be
your wife and try to make you happy, and--and--'

She hesitated a moment and then went on:

'Save you as much as possible from father. We cannot live here; you and
he would not get on; he means well and is the kindest of fathers to me,
but he is not like you, and we must go away.'

She was really a very sensible girl, Tom thought, and in his joy at
finding her so sensible he stooped and kissed her forehead as the proper
thing for him to do, while she, the poor little mistaken girl, threw
herself into his arms and began to cry, she was so glad and happy.

Tom did not