erving the
very man who had interrupted it, and that man only Mr. Sherwin's
clerk, I should have laughed at the idea. Yet so it was. Our books lay
neglected on the table--neglected by me, perhaps by Margaret too, for
Mr. Mannion.

His conversation, on this occasion at least, baffled all curiosity as
completely as his face. I tried to lead him to talk. He just answered
me, and that was all; speaking with great respect of manner and phrase,
very intelligibly, but very briefly. Mr. Sherwin--after referring to
the business expedition on which he had been absent, for the purchase
of silks at Lyons--asked him some questions about France and the French,
which evidently proceeded from the most ludicrous ignorance both of the
country and the people. Mr. Mannion just set him right; and did no more.
There was not the smallest inflection of sarcasm in his voice, not the
slightest look of sarcasm in his eye, while he spoke. When we talked
among ourselves, he did not join in the conversation; but sat quietly
waiting until he might be pointedly and personally addressed again. At
these times a suspicion crossed my mind that he might really be studying
my character, as I was vainly trying to study his; and I often turned
suddenly round on him, to see whether he was looking at me. This was
never the case. His hard, chill grey eyes were not on me, and not on
Margaret: they rested most frequently on Mrs. Sherwin, who always shrank
before them.

After staying little more than half an hour, he rose to go away. While
Mr. Sherwin was vainly pressing him to remain longer, I walked to the
round table at the other end of the room, on which the book was placed
that Margaret and I had intended to read during the evening. I was
standing by the table when he came to take leave of me. He just glanced
at the volume under my hand, and said in tones too low to be heard at
the other end of the room:

"I hope my arrival has not interrupted any occupation to-night, Sir.
Mr. Sherwin, aware of the interest I must feel in whatever concerns the
family of an employer whom I have served for years, has informed me in
confidence--a confidence which I know how to respect and preserve--of
your marriage with his daughter, and of the peculiar circumstances
under which the marriage has been contracted. I may at least venture to
congratulate the young lady on a change of life which must procure her
happiness, having begun already by procuring the increase of her menta