The furniture of the cottage might realize a few hundreds, which would most likely be, for the greater part, absorbed by the debts of the year and the expenses of his funeral.

Altogether, the outlook was a dreary one, and the Captain had suffered many a sharp pang in brooding over it.

Lovely and attractive as Marian was, the chances of an advantageous marriage were not many for her in such a place as Lidford.

It was natural, therefore, that Captain Sedgewick should welcome the advent of such a man as Gilbert Fenton--a man of good position and ample means; a thoroughly unaffected and agreeable fellow into the bargain, and quite handsome enough to win any woman's heart, the Captain thought.

He watched the two young people together, after the notion of this thing came into his mind, and about the sentiments of one of them he felt no shadow of doubt.