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.