Jim excited her, with his way of looking in her face and grinning wolfishly, and at the same time asking to be saved.
After tea, he wanted to send telegrams, so Lilly took him round to the village post-office.

Telegrams were a necessary part of his life.

He had to be suddenly starting off to keep sudden appointments, or he felt he was a void in the atmosphere.

He talked to Lilly about social reform, and so on.

Jim's work in town was merely nominal.