Thank Heaven! you haven't a lot of troublesome relations.

I think you said you were almost alone in the world.

Don't look so serious," he added laughing.
"Jeff is a fine fellow, and believe me an excellent catch as the world goes." Shirley raised her hand as if entreating him to desist.
"Oh, don't--don't--please! My position is so false! You don't know how false it is!" she cried.
At that instant the library door was thrown open and the butler appeared, ushering in Stott.

The lawyer looked anxious, and his dishevelled appearance indicated that he had come direct from the train.

Shirley scanned his face narrowly in the hope that she might read there what had happened.