bout his business with the
air of one who owned the whole village; but his clothes were rough, and
his boots over his trowsers. They hoped it would all turn out well.
There was "no doubt that he needed a woman badly enough."

Not only Miss Butterworth but Jim became the subject of congratulation.
The first time he entered Sevenoaks after the announcement of his
engagement, he was hailed from every shop, and button-holed at every
corner. The good-natured chaffing to which he was subjected he met with
his old smile.

"Much obleeged to ye for leavin' her for a man as knows a genuine
creetur when he sees her," he said, to one and another, who rallied him
upon his matrimonial intentions.

"Isn't she rather old?" inquired one whose manners were not learned of
Lord Chesterfield.

"I dunno," he replied; "she's hearn it thunder enough not to be skeered,
an' she's had the measles an' the whoopin' cough, an' the chicken pox,
an' the mumps, an' got through with her nonsense."

CHAPTER XXI.

IN WHICH JIM GETS THE FURNITURE INTO HIS HOUSE, AND MIKE CONLIN GETS
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF ADVICE INTO JIM.

Jim had a weary winter. He was obliged to hire and to board a number of
workmen, whom it was necessary to bring in from Sevenoaks, to effect the
finishing of his house. His money ran low at last, and Mr. Benedict was
called upon to write a letter to Mr. Balfour on his behalf, accepting
that gentleman's offer of pecuniary assistance. This was a humiliating
trial to Jim, for he had hoped to enter upon his new life free from the
burden of debt; but Mr. Balfour assured him that he did not regard his
contribution to the building-fund as a loan--it was only the payment for
his board in advance.

Jim was astonished to learn the extent of Miss Butterworth's resources.
She proposed to furnish the house from the savings of her years of
active industry. She had studied it so thoroughly during its progress,
though she had never seen it, that she could have found every door and
gone through every apartment of it in the dark. She had received from
Mr. Benedict the plan and dimensions of every room. Carpets were made,
matting was purchased, sets of furniture were procured, crockery, glass,
linen, mirrors, curtains, kitchen-utensils, everything necessary to
housekeeping, were bought and placed in store, so that, when the spring
came, all that remained necessary was to give her order to forward them,
and write her directions for their b