How many people spoke to me of this Holbrook as an unattractive man; and yet he won my love away from me, and holds her with an influence so complete, that my friendship seems worthless to her.

She cannot give me a word or a thought." Mr.Fenton made some inquiries about the funeral arrangements and found that these had been duly attended to by the lawyer, and a gentleman who had been with Jacob Nowell a good deal of late, who seemed to be some relation to the old man, Mr.Tulliver said, and took a great deal upon himself.

This being done, there was, of course, no occasion for Gilbert to interfere, and he was glad to be released from all responsibility.
Having ascertained this, he asked for the address of the late Mr.
Nowell's lawyer; and being told it, went at once to Mr.Medler's office.
He did not consider himself absolved from the promise he had made the old man by Marian's indifference, and was none the less anxious to watch over her interests because she seemed to set so little value on his friendship.
He told Mr.Medler who he was, and the promise he had given to Jacob Nowell, abstaining, of course, from any reference to the position he had once occupied towards Marian.

He described himself as her friend only--a friend of long standing, who had been intimate with her adopted guardian.
"I know how ignorant Mrs.Holbrook is of the world and of all business matters," he went on to say, "and I am naturally anxious that her interests should be protected." "I should think there was very little doubt that her husband will see after those," the lawyer answered, with something of a sneer; "husbands are generally supposed to do that, especially where there is money at stake." "I do not know Mr.Holbrook; and he has kept himself in the background so persistently up to this point, and has been altogether so underhanded in his proceedings, that I have by no means a good opinion of him.

Mr.
Nowell told me that he intended to leave his money to his granddaughter in such a manner, that it would be hers and hers only--free from the control of any husband.