dwelling. The grand object was to get their enterprise forwarded to a
point that would enable them to finish everything during the following
winter, with such assistance as it might be necessary to import from
Sevenoaks. The house needed to be made habitable for workmen while their
work was progressing, and to this end Mr. Benedict and Jim pushed their
efforts without assistance.

Occasionally, Jim found himself obliged to go to Sevenoaks for supplies,
and for articles and tools whose necessity had not been anticipated. On
these occasions, he always called Mike Conlin to his aid, and always
managed to see "the little woman" of his hopes. She was busy with her
preparations, carried on in secret; and he always left her with his head
full of new plans and his heart brimming with new satisfactions. It was
arranged that they should be married in the following spring, so as to
be ready for city boarders; and all his efforts were bent upon
completing the house for occupation.

During the autumn, Jim took from the Sevenoaks Post-Office a letter for
Paul Benedict, bearing the New York post mark, and addressed in the
handwriting of a lady. The letter was a great puzzle to Jim, and he
watched its effect upon his companion with much curiosity. Benedict wept
over it, and went away where he could weep alone. When he came back, he
was a transformed man. A new light was in his eye, a new elasticity in
all his movements.

"I cannot tell you about it, Jim," he said; "at least I cannot tell you
now; but a great burden has been lifted from my life. I have never
spoken of this to you, or to anybody; but the first cruel wound that the
world ever gave me has been healed by a touch."

"It takes a woman to do them things," said Jim. "I knowed when ye gin up
the little woman, as was free from what happened about an hour arter,
that ye was firm' low an' savin' yer waddin'. Oh, ye can't fool me, not
much!"

"What do you think of that, Jim?" said Benedict, smiling, and handing
him a check for five hundred dollars that the letter had inclosed.

Jim looked it over and read it through with undisguised astonishment.

"Did she gin it to ye?" he inquired.

"Yes."

"An' be ye a goin' to keep it?"

"Yes, I'm going to keep it."

Jim was evidently doubtful touching the delicacy both of tendering and
receiving such a gift.

"If that thing had come to me from the little woman," said he, "I should
think she was gittin' oneasy, an' a little duber