'I want to have a little talk.' 'Yes,' Tom faltered, with a dreadful sinking of the heart, while Peterkin went on: 'You see you've been a comin' to Lubbertoo off and on for mighty nigh a month, and as the parents of a family it's time I as't your intentions.' 'Intentions!' Tom stammered, trying to draw his arm from Peterkin's.
But he might as well have tried to wrench it from a vise, for Peterkin held it fast and went on: 'Yes, intentions! Thunderation, hain't a chap 'sposed to have intentions when he hangs round a gal who has money like my Ann 'Liza! I tell you what, Thomas,' and his manner became very insinuating and frank, 'as nigh as I can kalkerlate I'm worth three millions, fair and square, and there's three on 'em to divide it amongst--May Jane, Bill, and Ann 'Liza.

Now, s'posin' we say three into three million, don't it leave a million ?' Tom acknowledged that it did, and Peterkin continued: 'Jess so.

Now I ain't one of them mean skunks that wants his folks to wait till he's dead afore they enjoys themselves; and the day my Ann 'Liza is married, I plank down a million in hard cash for her and her husband to do what they darned please with; cut a dash in Europe as Hal is doin', if they like, or cut a splurge to hum, it's all one to me.

I call that square, don't you ?' Tom admitted that he did, and Peterkin went on: 'Now, then, I ain't goin't to have Ann 'Liza's affections trifled with, and if I catch a feller a doin' on't, d'ye know what I'll do ?' Tom could not guess, and Peterkin continued: 'I'll lick him within an inch of his life, and then set the dogs on him, and heave him inter the river! See ?' It was not a warm day, but Tom was perspiring at every pore as he saw presented to him the choice between a million or to be 'licked within an inch of his life and then dogged into the river.' Naturally he chose the first as the lesser evil of the two, and began to lie as he had never lied in his life before.

He was very glad, he said, that Peterkin had broached the subject, as it made matters easier for him by showing him that his suit might not be rejected, as he had feared it might be.
'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.