By this time I was sensible of a curious change incrusting, if I may say, my mind; no doubt an effect of our sequestration in the forest. Every little occurrence, which in other circumstances would have passed unheeded, became important; the very accidents which occasionally moved our domestic economy took the character of events, and often drew deeper on the resources of our reason and ingenuity, than things which in other days were truly important. In the same manner, remote transactions lost their interest: in proportion to their distance they became indistinct, and seemed to occupy no larger space in the mind, however consequential, than nearer trifles.

Thus it happened, that the arrival in one night of so many persons appeared a confluence of events in our fortune, and perhaps, all things considered, the apparition, as it may be called, of Mr. Possy, partook of the extraordinary.

From the dissolution of our co-partnery he had suffered, as he said, a great variety of ups and downs.

“But,” said he, “I have nevertheless still adhered to my natural line of business, and therefore, though I have realized nothing, yet ye see by this continuance I am in the way to do so, whenever a chance casts up.”