He had a sharp business head, and was a money-maker, and as soon as he was able he bought a farm of his own, and this is the farm; but there was no house on it then, except the little one that Mike now lives in.

But Matthias had grand ideas about an estate, and in the course of five years he built this house and the great barn, and made a fine estate of it.
"When this was going on, he still lived with his Aunt Pacewalk.

He did not want to go to his own house until everything was finished and ready.
Of course, everybody supposed he would take a wife there, but he never said anything about that, and gave a sniff when the subject was mentioned.

During the summer in which Cobhurst was finished--he named the place himself--he told his aunt that in the fall he was going there to live, and that he wanted her and Judith to come there and make him a visit of a month.

He said he intended to have his relations visit him by turns, and that was the sort of family he would have.