eceived: and
remained silent.

"What I was," he proceeded, "matters little; the question is what can
I do for you? Any aid I can give, may be poor enough; but it may be of
some use notwithstanding. For instance, the other day, if I mistake not,
you were a little hurt at Mr. Sherwin's taking his daughter to a party
to which the family had been invited. This was very natural. You
could not be there to watch over her in your real character, without
disclosing a secret which must be kept safe; and you could not know
what young men she might meet, who would imagine her to be Miss Sherwin
still, and would regulate their conduct accordingly. Now, I think I
might be of use here. I have some influence--perhaps in strict truth I
ought to say great influence--with my employer; and, if you wished it,
I would use that influence to back yours, in inducing him to forego, for
the future, any intention of taking his daughter into society, except
when you desire it. Again: I think I am not wrong in assuming that you
infinitely prefer the company of Mrs. Sherwin to that of Mr. Sherwin,
during your interviews with the young lady?"

How he had found that out? At any rate, he was right; and I told him so
candidly.

"The preference is on many accounts a very natural one," he said; "but
if you suffered it to appear to Mr. Sherwin, it might, for obvious
reasons, produce a most unfavourable effect. I might interfere in the
matter, however, without suspicion; I should have many opportunities of
keeping him away from the room, in the evening, which I could use if you
wished it. And more than that, if you wanted longer and more frequent
communication with North Villa than you now enjoy, I might be able to
effect this also. I do not mention what I could do in these, and in
other matters, in any disparagement, Sir, of the influence which you
have with Mr. Sherwin, in your own right; but because I know that in
what concerns your intercourse with his daughter, my employer _has_
asked, and _will_ ask my advice, from the habit of doing so in other
things. I have hitherto declined giving him this advice in your affairs;
but I will give it, and in your favour and the young lady's, if you and
she choose."

I thanked him--but not in such warm terms as I should have employed, if
I had seen even the faintest smile on his face, or had heard any change
in his steady, deliberate tones, as he spoke. While his words attracted,
his immovable looks repelled me,