The Professor had once sacrificed his liberty to secure a competence, and, having acquired five hundred a year, was not inclined for a second matrimonial venture.

Had the widow been a dollar heiress with a million at her back he would not have troubled to place a ring on her finger.

And certainly Mrs.Jasher had little to gain from such a dreary marriage, beyond a collection of rubbish--as she said--and a dull country house situated in a district inhabited solely by peasants belonging to Saxon times.
Archie Hope left Lucy at the door of the Pyramids and repaired to his village lodgings, for the purpose of assuming evening dress.

Lucy, being her own housekeeper, assisted the overworked parlor maid to lay and decorate the table before receiving the guests.

Thus Mrs.Jasher found no one in the drawing-room to welcome her, and, taking the privilege of old friendship, descended to beard Braddock in his den.