y sincere wish to render what connection
and influence I have with the family, useful in making the probation you
have still to pass through, as easy as possible. I have more means of
doing this, Sir, than you might at first imagine."

His offer took me a little by surprise. I felt with a sort of shame,
that candour and warmth of feeling were what I had not expected from
him. My attention insensibly wandered away from the storm, to attach
itself more and more closely to him, as he went on:

"I am perfectly sensible," he resumed, "that such a proposition as I
now make to you, proceeding from one little better than a stranger, may
cause surprise and even suspicion, at first. I can only explain it, by
asking you to remember that I have known the young lady since childhood;
and that, having assisted in forming her mind and developing her
character, I feel towards her almost as a second father, and am
therefore naturally interested in the gentleman who has chosen her for a
wife."

Was there a tremor at last in that changeless voice, as he spoke?
I thought so; and looked anxiously to catch the answering gleam of
expression, which might now, for the first time, be softening his iron
features, animating the blank stillness of his countenance. If any such
expression had been visible, I was too late to detect it. Just as I
looked at him he stooped down to poke the fire. When he turned towards
me again, his face was the same impenetrable face, his eye the same
hard, steady, inexpressive eye as before.

"Besides," he continued, "a man must have some object in life for his
sympathies to be employed on. I have neither wife nor child; and no near
relations to think of--I have nothing but my routine of business in the
day, and my books here by my lonely fireside, at night. Our life is not
much; but it was made for a little more than this. My former pupil at
North Villa is my pupil no longer. I can't help feeling that it would
be an object in existence for me to occupy myself with her happiness and
yours; to have two young people, in the heyday of youth and first love,
looking towards me occasionally for the promotion of some of their
pleasures--no matter how trifling. All this will seem odd and
incomprehensible to _you._ If you were of my age, Sir, and in my
position, you would understand it."

Was it possible that he could speak thus, without his voice faltering,
or his eye softening in the slightest degree? Yes: I looked at him