It was opened by a young person with her hair dressed in the prevailing fashion, and an air of some gentility, which clashed a little with a certain slatternliness that pervaded her attire.

She was rather a pretty girl, but had the faded London look of late hours, and precocious cares, instead of the fresh bloom and girlish brightness which should have belonged to her.
"Did you please to wish to see the apartments, sir ?" she asked politely.
"No; I want to see Mr.and Mrs .-- the lady and gentleman who are lodging here." He scarcely knew under what name he ought to ask for Marian.

It seemed unnatural to him now to speak of her as Mrs.Holbrook.
"The lady and gentleman, sir!" the girl exclaimed with a surprised air.
"There's no one lodging here now.

Mr.Nowell and his daughter left yesterday morning." "Left yesterday morning ?" "Yes, sir.

They went away to Liverpool; they are going to America--to New York." "Mr.Nowell and his daughter, Mrs.Holbrook ?" "Yes, sir, that was the lady's name." "It's impossible," cried Gilbert; "utterly impossible that Mrs.Holbrook would go to America! She has ties that would keep her in England; a husband whom she would never abandon in that manner.