"Was" must mean that Mr.Chester had been.

If he were living, he would still be a reader and a student.
"Did he find the new life all that he expected ?" I said, hesitating a little at the word did, as it was not impossible that I might be mistaken.
"Oh yes, and more.

I think the two years he spent here were the happiest of his life." I was not yet quite sure about the state of affairs; he might be in an insane asylum, or he might be a hopeless invalid up-stairs.
"If he had lived," she continued, "I suppose this would have been a wonderfully beautiful place, for he was always making improvements.
But it is four years now since his death, and in that time there has been very little change in the inn." I do not remember what answer I made to this remark, but I gazed out upon the situation as if it were an unrolled map.
"When you wrote your name in the book," she said, "it seemed to me as if you had brought a note of introduction, and I am sure I am very glad to be acquainted with you, for, you know, you are my husband's successor.

He did not like teaching, but he was fond of his scholars, and he always had a great fancy for school-teachers.

Whenever one of them stopped here--which happened two or three times--he insisted that he should be put into our best room, if it happened to be vacant, and that is the reason I have put you into it to-day." This was charming.