#16 THIRTIETH EVENING.

A SECRET CHARACTER UNVEILED.

Av a small house in one of the old squares in
London, there lived, for a number of years, a person
rather advanced in life, whose household consisted of
one male and one female servant. His person was
slender, and rather above the middle size; he had
a grave and pensive aspect; his dress was neat and
plain, but seldom varied, being generally black, which
in make, was never affected by the change of fashion.
He wore his own hair, which had become thin and
gray; in his appearance and simplicity of manner he
much resembled a Quaker, though without the pecu-
liarities of that sect. He kept up no intercourse with
his neighbours, and for a long period was known to
them only by sight. He was very regular in his
kabits, and was observed to go out and come in almost
always on foot, and even in the worst weather, and
a stranger was never observed to visit at his house.
His servants paid ready money for every article they
required. If there were a collection in the parish for
any charitable object, he always contributed fully as
much as was expected of him. His sentiments on
religion and politics were entirely unknown, though
‘he was regularly observed to leave his house on
Sunday a full half-hour before the church service
commenced, from which it was conjectured that he
was a regular attendant at some church in a distant
part of the town. His manner commanded the
respect of his neighbours, and he always returned
the salutation of the hat to those who gave it him;
but im any conversation he might be led into by them
he never exceeded a few words. Many were curious
to know the name and employment of such a regular
and inoffensive man—but, after all their inquiries,