"Will this make things awkward for you?"
"To some extent. Langrigg costs much to run and the dykes are expensive. I'll get my farm rents soon, but they won't go very far. For all that, the dykes must be finished; it's the only way to get back the money I have spent."
"Besides, you want to finish them," Carrie suggested.
"That is so," Jim agreed. "You can't leave a job half done."
He began to ponder and struggle with a disturbing doubt. If the Irrigation Company failed, he must use economy, because the farm rents would not enable him to live at Langrigg like a country gentleman. For himself, this did not matter much; he did not want a number of servants and gardeners. But Evelyn was used to the extravagance at Whitelees, and he knew Mrs. Halliday's views.
"Well," said Carrie, "to begin with, the dykes must be finished. When your money runs out you will use ours."
"Carrie speaks for the rest of us," Jake declared. "What she says goes."
Jim hardly understood the emotion by which he was moved and said awkwardly: "Thanks! You're generous, but I can't let you pay for my mistakes."
"We are partners, Jim," said Carrie. "Until you break the partnership, all that's ours is yours. Go on with the dykes and when you need money, ask Jake for a check."
"Give him the book," said Mrs. Winter. "Jake can sign some forms."