‘You know, of course, Mr. Peterkin,’ he said, ’that I am a poor young man, with no expectations whatever, for though Uncle Arthur has settled something upon father, I cannot depend upon that, and how could I dare to look as high as your daughter without some encouragement?’

‘Encouragement, boy?  Great Scott!’ and releasing Tom’s arm, Peterkin hit him a friendly slap, which nearly knocked him down.  ’Great Scott!  What do you call encouragement?  When a gal is so flustified at seeing you, and so tickled that she tetters right up and down, while her mother hunts heaven and earth for tit-bits to tickle your palate with—­quail on toast, mushrooms, sweet-breads, and the Lord knows what—­ain’t that a sign they are willin’?  Thunder and guns! what would 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.’