'You are a standing refutation of that saying,' replied Willie. 'It is different with me. I was cut out for an old bachelor.'
Cudgegong and Wanabeen were now the property of Jim Dennis, and he was a prosperous man. He paid down twelve thousand pounds, after settling day, over Grey Bird's Cup, to Chris Shaw, and the whole of the purchase money was handed over in three years.
Chris Shaw was as glad to handle the money and be rid of the station as Jim Dennis was to buy it, so they were mutually satisfied. Only one bad season had troubled them, and during that time Jim Dennis lost heavily, but quickly recouped himself when better days dawned.
Sergeant Doonan married Sal, and Jim Dennis had to look out for another housekeeper.
He searched in vain for some time, until at last he was well-nigh in despair of securing a suitable person. About this time he visited Barragong, and again met Molly Corbold at Adye Dauntsey's house.
The magistrate's wife died suddenly and she came to keep house for her cousin.
Molly Corbold's father had met with many severe reverses in business in Sydney, and she was glad to accept such a position as Adye Dauntsey offered her in order to relieve him. She admired Jim Dennis and was not afraid to show it, and he was not insensible to her charms and many good qualities, but considered she was 'a cut above him,' as he put it.
Mr Dauntsey saw how matters were drifting and was not ill-pleased. He knew Jim Dennis's worth, and also that he was a man of substance and well calculated to make a woman like Molly Corbold happy.
'Molly,' he said to her one day, when Jim Dennis had returned to Wanabeen. 'I think Dennis admires you. Do you like him?'
'Yes, I like him very much,' she replied openly. 'He is a very genuine man.'