He did not try to smoke.

The silence was something terrible; nothing was to be heard but an occasional cinder falling from the grate.
This lasted, I should say, for twenty minutes, and then he closed his book and flung it on the table.

I saw that the game was up, and closed "Anne Judge, Spinster." Then he said, with affected jocularity: "Well, young man, do you know that you are an uncle ?" There was silence again, for I was still trying to think out some appropriate remark.

After a time I said, in a weak voice.

"Boy or girl ?" "Girl," he answered.