She _was_ very fine and very smart, and Jerrie herself felt awed by her dignity and manner as she delivered her message.

'The gentleman sends his compliments, and would like to know how you are this morning.' 'Jerrie, it's Tom! he has come!' Ann Eliza said, with joy in her voice.
'Surely I can receive him here, for this is my parlor.' Jerrie thought she might, but the toss of the fine maid's head showed that she thought differently, as she left the room with her mistress' message.
'Thunderation! I didn't want to see her.

It's enough to have to call,' was Tom's mental comment, when Doris told him he was to walk up stairs.
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.