f several hundred lots on
the island of Manhattan; of one hundred and twenty-three in the city of
Brooklyn; of nearly as many in Williamsburg; of large undivided
interests in Milwaukie, Chicago, Rock River, Moonville, and other
similar places; besides owning a considerable part of a place called
Coney Island. In a word, the landed estate of Henry Halfacre, Esq.,
"inventoried," as he expressed it, just two millions, six hundred and
twelve thousand dollars; a handsome sum, it must be confessed, for a
man who, when he began his beneficent and energetic career in this
branch of business, was just twenty-three thousand, four hundred and
seventeen dollars worse than nothing. It is true, that there was some
drawback on all this prosperity; Mr. Halfacre's bonds, notes,
mortgages, and other liabilities, making a sum total that amounted to
the odd six hundred thousand dollars; this still left him, however, a
handsome paper balance of two millions.

Notwithstanding the amount of his "bills payable," Mr. Halfacre
considered himself a very prudent man: first, because he insisted on
having no book debts; second, because he always took another man's
paper for a larger amount than he had given of his own, for any
specific lot or lots; thirdly, and lastly, because he was careful to
"extend himself," at the risk of other persons. There is no question,
had all his lots been sold as he had inventoried them; had his debts
been paid; and had he not spent his money a little faster than it was
bona fide made, that Henry Halfacre, Esq. would have been a very rich
man. As he managed, however, by means of getting portions of the paper
he received discounted, to maintain a fine figure account in the bank,
and to pay all current demands, he began to be known as the RICH Mr.
Halfacre. But one of his children, the fair Eudosia, was out; and as
she had some distance to make in the better society of the town, ere
she could pass for aristocratic, it was wisely determined that a golden
bridge should be thrown across the dividing chasm. A hundred-dollar
pocket-handkerchief, it was hoped, would serve for the key-stone, and
then all the ends of life would be attained. As to a husband, a pretty
girl like Eudosia, and the daughter of a man of "four figure" lots,
might get one any day.

{was out = was a debutante, had been presented to society}

Honor O'Flagherty was both short-legged and short-breathed. She felt
the full importance of her mission; and havi