position as a man of means enjoying his
fortune, for even his building operations were probably undertaken for
the purpose of settling himself in Mrs. Cliff's neighborhood, and so
being able to marry Willy as soon as possible.

Willy Croup, although everybody spoke of her conduct as absolutely
ridiculous and even shameful, rose in public estimation simply from the
belief that she was about to marry a man who, whatever else he might be,
was of imposing appearance and was likely to be rich.

As to Mrs. Cliff, there could be no doubt that the general respect for
her was on the increase. If she were rich enough to attract Mr. Burke to
the town, she was probably rich enough to do a good many other things,
and after all it might be that that new house at the corner was being
built with her money.

Miss Shott was very industrious and energetic in expressing her opinion
of Mr. Burke. "There's a chambermaid at the hotel," she said, "who's
told me a lot of things about him, and it's very plain to my mind that
he isn't the gentleman that he makes himself out to be! His
handkerchiefs and his hair-brush aren't the kind that go with fur
overcoats and high hats, and she has often seen him stop in the hall
downstairs and black his own boots! Everybody knows he was a sailor, but
as to his ever having commanded a vessel, I don't believe a word of it!
But Willy Croup and that man needn't count on their schemes coming out
all right, for Sarah Cliff isn't any older than I am, and she's just as
likely to outlive them as she is to die before them!"

The fact that nobody had ever said that Burke had commanded a vessel,
and that Miss Shott had started the belief that Mrs. Cliff was in a
rapid decline, entirely escaped the attention of her hearers, so
interested were they in the subject of the unworthiness of the fine
gentleman at the hotel.

Winter had not yet really set in when George Burke, who had perceived no
reason to imagine that he had made a drop in public estimation, felt
himself stirred by emotions of triumphant joy. The new building on the
corner lot was on the point of completion!

Workmen and master-workmen, mechanics and laborers, had swarmed in,
over, and about the new edifice in such numbers that sometimes they
impeded each other. Close upon the heels of the masons came the
carpenters, and following them the plumbers and the plasterers; while
the painters impatiently restrained themselves in order to give their
predecesso