shadowy influence; but it passed away, and then the sunshine
returned to me, the same sunshine that it was before.

II.

The first change that passed over the calm uniformity of the life at
North Villa, came in this manner:

One evening, on entering the drawing-room, I missed Mrs. Sherwin; and
found to my great disappointment that her husband was apparently
settled there for the evening. He looked a little flurried, and was more
restless than usual. His first words, as we met, informed me of an event
in which he appeared to take the deepest interest.

"News, my dear sir!" he said. "Mr. Mannion has come back--at least two
days before I expected him!"

At first, I felt inclined to ask who Mr. Mannion was, and what
consequence it could possibly be to me that he had come back. But
immediately afterwards, I remembered that this Mr. Mannion's name had
been mentioned during my first conversation with Mr. Sherwin; and then
I recalled to mind the description I had heard of him, as "confidential
clerk;" as forty years of age; and as an educated man, who had made his
information of some use to Margaret in keeping up the knowledge she had
acquired at school. I knew no more than this about him, and I felt no
curiosity to discover more from Mr. Sherwin.

Margaret and I sat down as usual with our books about us.

There had been something a little hurried and abrupt in her manner
of receiving me, when I came in. When we began to read, her attention
wandered incessantly; she looked round several times towards the door.
Mr. Sherwin walked about the room without intermission, except when
he once paused on his restless course, to tell me that Mr. Mannion was
coming that evening; and that he hoped I should have no objection to be
introduced to a person who was "quite like one of the family, and well
enough read to be sure to please a great reader like me." I asked myself
rather impatiently, who was this Mr. Mannion, that his arrival at his
employer's house should make a sensation? When I whispered something of
this to Margaret, she smiled rather uneasily, and said nothing.

At last the bell was rung. Margaret started a little at the sound.
Mr. Sherwin sat down; composing himself into rather an elaborate
attitude--the door opened, and Mr. Mannion came in.

Mr. Sherwin received his clerk with the assumed superiority of the
master in his words; but his tones and manner flatly contradicted them.
Margaret rose hastily, and then as has