degree resembling his in my life. Your clerk, Mr. Sherwin, is a
complete walking mystery that I want to solve. Margaret cannot give me
much help, I am afraid. When you came in, I was about to apply to Mrs.
Sherwin for a little assistance."

"Don't do any such thing! You'll be quite in the wrong box there. Mrs.
S. is as sulky as a bear, whenever Mannion and she are in company
together. Considering her behaviour to him, I wonder he can be so
civil to her as he is."

"What can you tell me about him yourself, Mr. Sherwin?"

"I can tell you there's not a house of business in London has such a
managing man as he is: he's my factotum--my right hand, in short; and
my left too, for the matter of that. He understands my ways of doing
business; and, in fact, carries things out in first-rate style. Why,
he'd be worth his weight in gold, only for the knack he has of keeping
the young men in the shop in order. Poor devils! they don't know how
he does it; but there's a particular look of Mr. Mannion's that's as
bad as transportation and hanging to them, whenever they see it. I'll
pledge you my word of honour he's never had a day's illness, or made a
single mistake, since he's been with me. He's a quiet, steady-going,
regular dragon at his work--he is! And then, so obliging in other
things. I've only got to say to him: 'Here's Margaret at home for the
holidays;' or, 'Here's Margaret a little out of sorts, and going to be
nursed at home for the half-year--what's to be done about keeping up
her lessons? I can't pay for a governess (bad lot, governesses!) and
school too.'--I've only got to say that; and up gets Mannion from his
books and his fireside at home, in the evening--which begins to be
something, you know, to a man of his time of life--and turns tutor for