difference, for they were now close to the house. As they passed through
the lodge-gates, Miss Garth looked round, and saw that the stranger
was quickening his pace, apparently with the purpose of entering into
conversation. Seeing this, she at once directed the young ladies to go
on to the house with the dogs, while she herself waited for events at
the gate.

There was just time to complete this discreet arrangement, before the
stranger reached the lodge. He took off his hat to Miss Garth politely,
as she turned round. What did he look like, on the face of him? He
looked like a clergyman in difficulties.

Taking his portrait, from top to toe, the picture of him began with a
tall hat, broadly encircled by a mourning band of crumpled crape. Below
the hat was a lean, long, sallow face, deeply pitted with the smallpox,
and characterized, very remarkably, by eyes of two different colors--one
bilious green, one bilious brown, both sharply intelligent. His hair was
iron-gray, carefully brushed round at the temples. His cheeks and chin
were in the bluest bloom of smooth shaving; his nose was short Roman;
his lips long, thin, and supple, curled up at the corners with a
mildly-humorous smile. His white cravat was high, stiff, and dingy;
the collar, higher, stiffer, and dingier, projected its rigid points on
either side beyond his chin. Lower down, the lithe little figure of the
man was arrayed throughout in sober-shabby black. His frock-coat was
buttoned tight round the waist, and left to bulge open majestically at
the chest. His hands were covered with black cotton gloves neatly
darned at the fingers; his umbrella, worn down at the ferule to the last
quarter of an inch, was carefully preserved, nevertheless, in an oilskin
case. The front view of him was the view in which he looked oldest;
meeting him face to face, he might have been estimated at fifty or more.