me over me, on first casting my eyes on that
mysterious book, and I stood motionless. He looked up, smiled, closed
his book, and put it in his bosom. "You seem strangely affected, dear
sir, by looking at my book," said he mildly.

"In the name of God, what book is that?" said I. "Is it a Bible?"

"It is my Bible, sir," said he, "but I will cease reading it, for I am
glad to see you. Pray, is not this a day for holy festivity with you?"

I stared in his face, but made no answer, for my senses were bewildered.

"Do you not know me?" said he. "You appear to be somehow at a loss. Had
not you and I some sweet communion and fellowship yesterday?"

"I beg your pardon, sir," said I. "But, surely, if you are the young
gentleman with whom I spent the hours yesterday, you have the chameleon
art of changing your appearance; I never could have recognized you."

"My countenance changes with my studies and sensations," said he. "It
is a natural peculiarity in me, over which I have not full control. If
I contemplate a man's features seriously, mine own gradually assume the
very same appearance and character. And what is more, by contemplating
a face minutely, I not only attain the same likeness but, with the
likeness, I attain the very same ideas as well as the same mode of
arranging them, so that, you see, by looking at a person attentively, I
by degrees assume his likeness, and by assuming his likeness I attain
to the possession of his most secret thoughts. This, I say, is a
peculiarity in my nature, a gift of the God that made me; but, whether
or not given me for a blessing, He knows Himself, and so do I. At all
events, I have this privilege, I can never be mistaken of a character
in whom I am interested."

"It is a rare qualification," replied I, "and I would give worlds to
possess it. Then, it appears that it is needless to dissemble with you,
since you can at any time extract our most secret thoughts from our
bosoms. You already know my natural character?"

"Yes," said he, "and it is that which attaches me to you. By assuming
your likeness yesterday, I became acquainted with your character, and
was no less astonished at the profundity and range of your thoughts
than at the heroic magnanimity with which these were combined. And now,
in addition to these, you are dedicated to the great work of the Lord;
for which reasons I have resolved to attach myself as closely to you as
possible, and to render you all the service of whic