Her mother was dead too; this last was a _great_ comfort.

And the uncle had kept her in seclusion all her life.

They are nobodies, dear Marian! Nobodies at all, but that girl has two hundred thousand pounds, and can redeem the property of all its mortgages--if only Maurice will let her do it." "But how did you ask her here ?" "How?
What is simpler?
The moment the Warburtons told me of the wealth that would be that girl's on her marriage (I was careful to make sure of the marriage point), I felt that an overpowering sense of gratitude compelled me to go and call on her.

She and her uncle were new-comers in that county, and--it is very exclusive--so that when I _did_ arrive, I was received with open arms.

I was charming to the old uncle, a frosty sort of person, but not objectionable in any way, and I at once asked the niece to pay me a visit.