The firm grew and prospered, until Harston began to be looked upon as a warm man in the City circles.

His only child was Kate, a girl of seventeen.

There were no other near relatives, save Dr.
Dimsdale, a prosperous West-end physician.

No wonder that Ezra Girdlestone's active business mind, and perhaps that of his father too, should speculate as to the disposal of the fortune of the dying man.
Girdlestone pushed open the iron gate and strode down the gravel walk which led to his friend's house.

A bright autumn sun shining out of a cloudless heaven bathed the green lawn and the many-coloured flower-beds in its golden light.