(Book 2 Chapters 7-13) What court case does Stryver win, at least in his own imagination? How is this situation resolved? What surprised Mr. Lorry about it all?

The court case Stryver believed had been decided in his favor directly related to his desire to marry Lucie. He considered himself the plaintiff, he had the perfect case for why Lucie should marry him, the defendant had no case for why she shouldn't, and the jury didn't even have to consider the evidence.

Mr. Stryver having made up his mind to that magnanimous bestowal of good fortune on the Doctor's daughter, resolved to make her happiness known to her before he left town for the Long Vacation. After some mental debating of the point, he came to the conclusion that it would be as well to get all the preliminaries done with, and they could then arrange at their leisure whether he should give her his hand a week or two before Michaelmas Term, or in the little Christmas vacation between it and Hilary.

As to the strength of his case, he had not a doubt about it, but clearly saw his way to the verdict. Argued with the jury on substantial worldly grounds--the only grounds ever worth taking into account-- it was a plain case, and had not a weak spot in it. He called himself for the plaintiff, there was no getting over his evidence, the counsel for the defendant threw up his brief, and the jury did not even turn to consider. After trying it, Stryver, C. J., was satisfied that no plainer case could be.

Mr. Lorry was surprised because he didn't have the opinion Stryver could ever succeed.

"Because," said Mr. Lorry, "I wouldn't go on such an object without having some cause to believe that I should succeed."