pouring of dregs into a basin,
or of fresh water on the leaves. A middle-aged female servant, neat and
quiet, came up and took away the tray, bringing it to us again with the
tea-pot and tea-cups clean and empty, to receive a fresh infusion from
fresh leaves. These were trifles to notice; but I thought of other
tradesmen's clerks who were drinking their gin-and-water jovially, at
home or at a tavern, and found Mr. Mannion a more exasperating mystery
to me than ever.

The conversation between us turned at first on trivial subjects, and
was but ill sustained on my part--there were peculiarities in my present
position which made me thoughtful. Once, our talk ceased altogether;
and, just at that moment, the storm began to rise to its height. Hail
mingled with the rain, and rattled heavily against the window. The
thunder, bursting louder and louder with each successive peal, seemed
to shake the house to its foundations. As I listened to the fearful
crashing and roaring that seemed to fill the whole measureless void of
upper air, and then looked round on the calm, dead-calm face of the man
beside me--without one human emotion of any kind even faintly pictured
on it--I felt strange, unutterable sensations creeping over me; our
silence grew oppressive and sinister; I began to wish, I hardly knew
why, for some third person in the room--for somebody else to look at and
to speak to.

He was the first to resume the conversation. I should have imagined it
impossible for any man, in the midst of such thunder as now raged above
our heads, to think or talk of anything but the storm. And yet, when he
spoke, it was merely on a subject connected with his introduction to
me at North Villa. His attention seemed as far from being attracted or
impressed by the mighty elemental tumult without, as if the tranquillity
of the night were uninvaded by the slightest murmur of sound.

"May I inquire, Sir," he began, "whether I am right in apprehending that
my conduct towards you, since we first met at Mr. Sherwin's house, may
have appeared strange, and even discourteous, in your eyes?"

"In what respect, Mr. Mannion?" I asked, a little startled by the
abruptness of the question.

"I am perfectly sensible, Sir, that you have kindly set me the example,
on many occasions, in trying to better our acquaintance. When such
advances are made by one in your station to one in mine, they ought to
be immediately and gratefully responded to."

Why did he