You find this room rather close, perhaps.

Some people do; but I'm old and chilly, and I can't live without a fire." "I have come to you in great anxiety of mind," said Gilbert, as he seated himself upon the only disengaged chair in the room, "and with some hope that you may be able to set my mind at ease by affording me information about Miss Marian Nowell." "I can give you no information about her." "Indeed!" cried Gilbert, with a bitter pang of disappointment; "and yet you answered my advertisement." "I did, because I have some reason to suppose this Marian Nowell may be my granddaughter." "That is quite possible." "Can you tell me her father's name ?" "Percival Nowell.

Her mother was a Miss Lucy Geoffry." "Right," said the old man.

"Percival Nowell was my only son--my only child of late years.

There was a girl, but she died early.