Give up this idea and think of something else to bother me." But the new proprietor of the Wegg farm was obdurate.

During the past week he had indulged in sundry sly purchases, which had been shipped, in his name to Chazy Junction, the nearest railway station to Millville.
Therefore, the "die had been cast," as far as Mr.Merrick was concerned, for the purchases were by this time at the farm, awaiting him, and he could not back out without sacrificing them.

They included a set of gardening tools, several hammocks, croquet and tennis sets, and a remarkable collection of fishing tackle, which the sporting-goods man had declared fitted to catch anything that swam, from a whale to a minnow.

Also, Uncle John decided to dress the part of a rural gentleman, and ordered his tailor to prepare a corduroy fishing costume, a suit of white flannel, one of khaki, and some old-fashioned blue jean overalls, with apron front, which, when made to order by the obliging tailor, cost about eighteen dollars a suit.

To forego the farm meant to forego all these luxuries, and Mr.Merrick was unequal to the sacrifice.