'I know lots o' folks,' says he, 'that would be glad to stay with ye, an' pay all ye axed 'em.
Build a big house,' says he, 'an' take yer time for't, an' when ye git ready for company, let a feller know.' I tell ye, it made my eyes stick out to think on't.

'Jim Fenton's hotel! says I.'I don't b'lieve I can swing it.' 'If ye want any more money'n ye've got,' says he, 'call on me.'" The idea of a hotel, with all its intrusions upon his privacy and all its diversions, was not pleasant to Mr.Benedict; but he saw at once that no woman worthy of Jim could be expected to be happy in the woods entirely deprived of society.

It would establish a quicker and more regular line of communication with Sevenoaks, and thus make a change from its life to that of the woods a smaller hardship.

But the building of a large house was a great enterprise for two men to undertake.
The first business was to draw a plan.

In this work Mr.Benedict was entirely at home.