"Well," I reflected，"if you won"t talk，you may be still; I"ll let you alone now，and return to my book."

So I snuffed the candle and resumed the perusal of Marmion. He soon stirred; my eye was instantly drawn to his movements; he only took out a morocco pocket-book，thence produced a letter，which he read in silence，folded it，put it back，relapsed into meditation. It was vain to try to read with such an inscrutable fixture before me; nor could I，in my impatience，consent to be dumb; he might rebuff me if he liked，but talk I would.

"Have you heard from Diana and Mary lately?"

"Not since the letter I showed you a week ago."

"There has not been any change made about your own arrangements?

You will not be summoned to leave England sooner than you expected?"

"I fear not，indeed: such chance is too good to befall me." Baffled so far，I changed my ground. I bethought myself to talk about the school and my scholars.

"Mary Garrett"s mother is better，and Mary came back to the school this morning，and I shall have four new girls next week from the Foundry Close- they would have e to-day but for the snow."

"Indeed!"

"Mr. Oliver pays for two."

"Does he?"

"He means to give the whole school a treat at Christmas."

"I know."

"Was it your suggestion?"

"No."

"Whose，then?"

"His daughter"s，I think."

"It is like her: she is so good-natured."

"Yes."

Again came the blank of a pause: the clock struck eight strokes. It aroused him; he uncrossed his legs，sat erect，turned to me.

"Leave your book a moment，and e a little nearer the fire," he said.