“But won’t you hould to your plan about the license?”

“Hould!  To be sure I will.  What was I but takin’ a rise out o’ you.  I intinded it this good while, you phanix—­faix, I did.”

In this manner did Ellish dupe her own husband into increasing wealth.  Their business soon became so extensive, that a larger house was absolutely necessary.  To leave that, beneath whose roof she succeeded so well in all her speculations, was a point—­be it of prudence or of prejudice—­which Ellish could not overcome.  Her maxim was, whereever you find yourself doing well, stay there.  She contrived, however, to remedy this.  To the old house additional apartments were, from time to time, added, into which their business soon extended.  When these again became too small, others were also built; so that in the course of about twenty years, their premises were so extensive, that the original shebeen-house constituted a very small portion of Peter’s residence.  Peter, during Ellish’s progress within doors, had not been idle without.  For every new room added to the house, he was able to hook in a fresh farm in addition to those he had already occupied.  Unexpected success had fixed his heart so strongly upon the accumulation of money, and the pride of rising in the world, as it was possible for a man, to whom they were only adventitious feelings, to experience.  The points of view in which he and his wife were contemplated by the little public about them were peculiar, but clearly distinct.  The wife was generally esteemed for her talents and incessant application to business; but she was not so cordially liked as Peter.  He, on the other hand, though less esteemed, was more beloved by all their acquaintances than Ellish.  This might probably originate from the more obvious congeniality which existed between Peter’s natural disposition, and the national character; for with the latter, Ellish, except good humor, had little in common.

The usual remarks upon both were—­“she would buy an’ sell him”—­“’twas she that made a man of him; but for all that, Pether’s worth a ship-load of her, if she’d give him his own way.”  That is, if she would permit him to drink with the neighbors, to be idle and extravagant.

Every year, now that their capital was extending, added more perceptibly to their independence.  Ellish’s experience in the humbler kinds of business, trained her for a higher line; just as boys at school rise from one form to another.  She made no plunges, nor permitted Peter, who was often, inclined to jump at conclusions, to make any.  Her elevation was gradual and cautious; for her plans were always so seasonable and simple that every new description of business, and every new success, seemed to arise naturally from that which went before it.

Having once taken out a license, their house soon became a decent country spirit establishment; from soap, and candles, and tobacco, she rose into the full sweep of groceries; and from dealing in Connemara stockings and tape, she proceeded in due time to sell woollen and linen drapery.  Her crockery was now metamorphosed into delf, pottery, and hardware; her gingerbread into stout loaves, for as Peter himself grew wheat largely, she seized the opportunity presented by the death of the only good baker in the neighborhood, of opening an extensive bakery.