She had married a well-to-do merchant in Wenham, who died six months before and left her with considerable property.

It was her own smart little turn-out in which she had been seen with Jim.
Eva was working in the shop, and Jim had been out of employment for nearly a year, and living on his wife.

There was a demand for girls and not for men just then, so Jim loafed.

His old mother cared for the house as well as she was able, and Eva did the rest nights and mornings.

At first Jim had tried to help about the house-work, but Eva had interfered.
"It ain't a man's work," said she.