and even though yenka feared her familys response to yerns proposal a fear confirmed by the reaction of her mother and sisters , who had taken the news with wordless austerity , as if theyd been told that a stray dog had pissed on their door father grindloss , upon hearing from his prospective son-in-law that not only was he relieved from coughing up a dowry but was to receive , as a gesture of gratitude for allowing the marriage , a monthly supply of suckling pig and beer , was so overjoyed , he nearly threw his own wife into the bargain .