Indeed, he would not have come at all if Maude, to whom he related his adventure, had not insisted that he must.

’You needn’t see her, of course; but you must go and inquire how she is.  According to your own statement you are to blame for her mishap; you dragged her along too fast.

Tom knew there was some truth in this, and so he went the more willingly; and, sending up his card, stood near the open door, ready to leave the moment Leo came down with the message he had received from Doris.

‘I shall be cheek by jowl with these Peterkins, if I don’t look out,’ he thought, as he ascended the stairs to the hall, where Doris stood waiting to show him her mistress’ room.

‘What!  Jerry!  You here?’ he exclaimed, his face clearing, and the whole aspect of matters changing at once, as she arose to meet him.

With Jerrie there the place seemed different, and he did not feel as if he were lowering himself, as he sat in the luxuriously furnished room, and joined in the dainty lunch which was brought up and served from Dresden china, and linen and cut glass, and was as delicate and dainty in its way as anything he had ever found at the Brunswick or Delmonico’s.  Mrs. Peterkin prided herself upon her cuisine, which she always superintended, and as Peterkin was something of an epicure and gourmand, the table was always supplied with every possible delicacy.

Tom enjoyed it all, and praised the chocolate, and the broiled chicken, and the jellies, and thought Ann Eliza not so very bad-looking in her blue satin wrapper, with the swan’s-down trimmings, and made himself generally agreeable.  Maude was better, he said, and could talk a little, and he asked Jerrie to go home with him and see her.  But Jerrie declined.

‘I have a great deal of work to do yet,’ she said, ’I must iron all those clothes you saw upon the line yesterday, and so I must be going.’

Tom frowned at the mention of the clothes which Jerrie had washed; while Ann Eliza insisted that she should stay until the dog-cart, which had been sent to the station for Billy, came back, when Lewis would take her home, as it was too warm to walk.  Jerrie did not mind the walk, but she felt morally sure that Tom meant to accompany her, and greatly preferred the dog-cart and Lewis to another tete-a-tete with him, for he did not act at all like a discarded lover, but rather as one who still hoped he had a chance.  So she signified her intention to wait for the dog-cart, which soon came, with Billy in it, anxious when he heard of his sister’s accident, delighted when he found Jerrie there, and persistent in saying that he and not Lewis would take her home.

‘Well, if you will, you will,’ she said, laughingly; and bidding Ann Eliza good-bye, and telling Tom to give her love to Maude and say to her that she did not believe she should be at the park that day, she had so much to do, she was soon in the dog-cart with Billy, whose face was radiant as he gathered up the reins and started down the turnpike, driving at what Jerrie thought a very slow pace, as she was anxious to get home.