Mr.Grey lived in the old Manor-house, a small, uncomfortable place, which had a nook of its own, close upon the water, and with a lovely little lawn.

It was certainly most uncomfortable as a gentleman's residence, but no consideration would induce Mr.Grey to sell it.

There were but two sitting-rooms in it, and one was for the most part uninhabited.

The up-stairs drawing-room was furnished, but any one with half an eye could see that it was never used.

A "stray" caller might be shown up there, but callers of that class were very uncommon in Mr.Grey's establishment.
With his own domestic arrangements Mr.Grey would have been quite contented, had it not been for Mrs.Carroll.It was now some years since he had declared that though Mr.Carroll,--or Captain Carroll, as he had then been called,--was an improvident, worthless, drunken Irishman, he would never see his sister want.