And no, she would not listen to him--she did not believe a word he said; and--yes, of course, she was glad to see any old friend; and no, he should not go.

He must stay with them.

They expected him to do so.
So Ferdy sent to Ridgely for his bags, and spent several days at Squire Rawson's, and put in the best work he was capable of during that time.
He even had the satisfaction of seeing Phrony treat coldly and send away one or two country bumpkins who rode up in all the bravery of long broad-cloth coats and kid gloves.
But if at the end of this time the young man could congratulate himself on success in one quarter, he knew that he was balked in the other.
Phrony Tripper was heels over head in love with him; but her grandfather, though easy and pliable enough to all outward seeming, was in a land-deal as dull as a ditcher.

Wickersham spread out before him maps and plats showing that he owned surveys which overlapped those under which the old man claimed.
"Don't you see my patents are older than yours ?" "Looks so," said the old man, calmly.

"But patents is somethin' like folks: they may be too old." The young man tried another line.
The land was of no special value, he told him; he only wanted to quiet their titles, etc.