Which is the best, and which do you charge the most for?
Somebody's got to keep me to-night, and ye're the man to bid low." Buffum made no reply, but stooped down, took a sliver from a log, and began to pick his teeth.

Jim watched him with quiet amusement.

The more Mr.Buffum thought, the more furious he grew with his toothpick.
"Pretty tough old beef, wasn't it ?" said Jim, with a hearty laugh.
"You go in and see the women," said Mr.Buffum, in a wheezy whisper.
This, to Jim, was equivalent to an honorable reception.

He had no doubt of his ability to make his way with "the women" who, he was fully aware, had been watching him all the time from the window.
To the women of Tom Buffum's household, a visitor was a godsend.
Socially, they had lived all their lives in a state of starvation.

They knew all about Jim Fenton, and had exchanged many a saucy word with him, as he had passed their house on his journeys to and from Sevenoaks.
"If you can take up with what we've got," said Mrs.Buffum suggestively.
"In course," responded Jim, "an' I can take up with what ye haven't got." "Our accommodations is very crowded," said Mrs.Buffum.
"So is mine to home," responded Jim.