If he really had some doubts on the matter the Jack-of-all-trades formed a minority of one on the question of Jeckie Farnish's success. Everybody in the village believed that within a comparatively short time the pit would be in full working order, and coal would be coming up the winding shaft in huge quantities. And there were not wanting those in Savilestowe who were eager to get some share in the fortune which Jeckie and Lucilla had so far managed to monopolise. The squire, and the vicar, and Stubley, and Merritt as principals, and some of the lesser lights of the community as accessories, began putting their heads together in secret and discussing plans and schemes of money-making, all arising out of the fact that work was going ahead rapidly at the Farnish-Grice pit. Now, it was almost impossible for anything to be discussed, or for anything to happen in Savilestowe without the news of it reaching Jeckie--and one day she went to Lucilla with a face full of information and resolve. "It's always the case!" she began, with a dark hinting look. "Whenever a big affair like ours is started, there's sure to be them that wants to get a bit of picking out of it by some means or other, fair or foul. I'll not say 'at this isn't fair, but it doesn't suit me!" "What is it?" asked Lucilla anxiously. "Nothing wrong?" "Not with our concern," replied Jeckie. "That's going all right, as you know very well--we shall be getting coal in another twelve month. No, it's this--it's come to my ears that the squire and Stubley and some more of 'em, knowing very well that there'll have to be a bit of housing accommodation provided, are forming themselves into a society or a company, or something, with the idea of building what they call a model village that'll be well outside Savilestowe but within easy reach. Now, you and me's not going to have that!" "But--the miners'll have to live somewhere!" said Lucilla. Jeckie gave her partner a queer look. "Do you think I don't know that?" she said. "Why, of course! And I've made provision for it, though I thought we'd time enough. But now--before ever this lot can get to work--we'll start. We'll have our men in our own hands--on our own property." "But how?" inquired Lucilla.