ness very unusual to their
ordinary restless and rapid glances. His mouth, that great seat of
character, was firmly and obstinately shut; and though, at the first
observation, its downward curve and iron severity wore the appearance
of unmitigated harshness, disdain, and resolve, yet a more attentive
deducer of signs from features would not have been able to detect in its
expression anything resembling selfishness or sensuality, and in
that absence would have found sufficient to redeem the more repellent
indications of mind which it betrayed.

Presently the door was opened, and the landlord, making some apology
to both parties for having no other apartment unoccupied, introduced a
personage whose dress and air, as well as a kind of saddle-bag, which he
would not intrust to any other bearer than himself, appeared to denote
him as one rather addicted to mercantile than political speculations.
Certainly he did not seem much at home among the patriotic reformers,
who, having glared upon him for a single moment, renewed, without
remark, their several attitudes or occupations.

The stranger, after a brief pause, approached the solitary reformer
whom we last described; and making a salutation, half timorous and half
familiar, thus accosted him,--

"Your servant, Mr. Wolfe, your servant. I think I had the pleasure of
hearing you a long time ago at the Westminster election: very eloquent
you were, sir, very!"

Wolfe looked up for an instant at the face of the speaker, and, not
recognizing it, turned abruptly away, threw open the window, and,
leaning out, appeared desirous of escaping from all further intrusion on
the part of the stranger; but that gentleman was by no means of a nature
easily abashed.

"Fine day, sir, for the time of year; very fine day, indeed. October
is a charming month, as my lamented friend and customer, the late Lady
Waddilove, was accustomed to say. Talking of that, sir, as the winter
is now approaching, do you not think it would be prudent, Mr. Wolfe, to
provide yourself with an umbrella? I have an admirable one which I might
dispose of: it is from the effects of the late Lady Waddilove. 'Brown,'
said her ladyship, a short time before her death, 'Brown, you are a good
creature; but you ask too much for the Dresden vase. We have known each
other a long time; you must take fourteen pounds ten shillings, and you
may have that umbrella in the corner into the bargain.' Mr. Wolfe,
the bargain was complete