At all events, they had grown in the interval from little girls into young ladies--Cornelia nineteen, and Sophie not more than a year younger.

"Bless me!" murmured the professor aloud, taking the pipe from his mouth, and bringing his heavy eyebrows together in a thoughtful frown.
He would scarcely have believed, in his younger years, that he would have remained anywhere so long, without even a thought of changing the scene.

But then, his society days were over long ago, and he had seen all he ever intended to see of the world.

Here he had his house, and his daily newspaper, and his books, and his garden, and the love and respect of his daughters and fellow-townspeople.

Was not that enough--was it not all he could desire?
But here, insensibly, the professor's eyes rested upon the vacant spot at the summit of the hill opposite.
Very few people, be they never so old, or their circumstances never so good, would find it impossible to mention something which they believe they would be the happier for possessing.