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 because she had sprained her ankle for the sake of having Tom Tracy bring her home, hoping he would keep calling to see her, and thus give her a chance to rope him in, which she never could as long as the world stood.

’Neither you nor Bill will ever marry, with all your money, unless you take up with a cobbler, and he with a washwoman,’ was his farewell remark, as he finally left the house about three o’clock and started for the village, where he had some of his own witnesses to see before taking the train for Springfield at five.