Opposite was an antique and high mantelpiece of black oak.

The rest of the room was walled from the floor to the roof with books; volumes of all languages, and it might even be said, without much exaggeration, upon all sciences, were strewed around, on the chairs, the tables, or the floor.

By the window stood the Student's desk, and a large old-fashioned chair of oak.

A few papers, filled with astronomical calculations, lay on the desk, and these were all the witnesses of the result of study.

Indeed Aram does not appear to have been a man much inclined to reproduce the learning he acquired;--what he wrote was in very small proportion to what he had read.
So high and grave was the reputation he had acquired, that the retreat and sanctum of so many learned hours would have been interesting, even to one who could not appreciate learning; but to Madeline, with her peculiar disposition and traits of mind, we may readily conceive that the room presented a powerful and pleasing charm.