With the years she had developed into rather a stately young woman: she
held her head high and walked with a firm, free step.
Her first visit was to the stable to find Long Jim--or Old Jim as they
now called him; for he was nearing the sixties. The notice to leave,
which he had given the day before, was one of the "trifles" it fell to
her to consider. Personally Mary thought his going would be no great
loss: he knew nothing about a garden, yet resented instruction; and it
had always been necessary to get outside help in for the horses. If he
went they could engage some one who would combine the posts. But Richard
had taken umbrage at the old man's tone; had even been nervously upset
over it. It behoved her to find out what the matter was.
"I want a change," said Old Jim dourly in response to her inquiry; and
went on polishing wheel-spokes, and making the wheel fly. "I've bin 'ere
too long. An' now I've got a bit o' brass together, an' am thinkin' I'd
like to be me own master for a spell."
"But at your age, Jim, is it wise?--to throw up a comfortable home,
just because you've laid a little past?"
"It's enough to keep me. I turned over between four and five 'undred
last week in 'Piecrusts.'"
"Oh!" said Mary, taken by surprise. "Then that--that's your only reason
for wishing to leave?" And as he did not reply, but went on swishing:
"Come, Jim, if you've anything on your mind, say it out. The doctor
didn't like the way you spoke to him last night.
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