The knickknacks scattered about the room were ornamental as well as useful.

Even the collie dog which lay luxuriously on the hearthrug with one eye half open was as beautiful as he was faithful.
Mr Halgrove whistled pleasantly to himself as he stirred his coffee and glanced down the columns of the London paper.
If you had looked over his shoulder, you would have come to the conclusion that Mr Halgrove's idea of what was interesting in a newspaper and your own by no means coincided.
He was, in fact, reading the money article, and running his eye skilfully among the mazes of the stocks and shares there reported.
Suddenly there was a ring at the hall door and a man's voice in the hall.

Next moment the study door opened, and amid the frantic rejoicings of Julius, John Jeffreys walked into the presence of his guardian.

He was haggard and travel-stained, and Mr Halgrove, in the midst of his astonishment, noticed that his boots were nearly in pieces.
Bolsover was fifty-five miles from York, and the roads were rough and stony.

The guardian, whatever astonishment he felt at this unexpected apparition, gave no sign of it in his face, as he sat back in his chair and took several quiet whiffs of his weed before he addressed his visitor.
"Ah!" said he, "you've broken up early." "No, sir," said Jeffreys.