The position of principal, the command of men, the conduct of, and the personal responsibility for, a great enterprise, had given him conscious growth.

His old life and his old associations were insufficient to contain him.
After dinner they started on, for the first time accompanied by Mike's wife.

Before her marriage she had lived the life common to her class--that of cook and housemaid in the families of gentlemen.

She knew the duties connected with the opening of a house, and could bring its machinery into working order.

She could do a thousand things that a man either could not do, or would not think of doing; and Jim had arranged that she should be housekeeper until the mistress of the establishment should be installed in her office.
The sun had set before they arrived at the river, and the boats of the two guides, with Jim's, which had been brought down by Mr.Benedict, were speedily loaded with the furniture, and Mike, picketing his horses for the night, embarked with the rest, and all slept at Number Nine.
In three days Jim was to be married, and his cage was ready for his bird.