When was that atmosphere to be clear again?
When were the clouds of change to pass off before the returning sunshine of past and happier times?
The spring and the early summer wore away.

The dreaded month of July came, with its airless nights, its cloudless mornings, and its sultry days.
On the fifteenth of the month, an event happened which took every one but Norah by surprise.

For the second time, without the slightest apparent reason--for the second time, without a word of warning beforehand--Frank suddenly re-appeared at his father's cottage.
Mr.Clare's lips opened to hail his son's return, in the old character of the "bad shilling"; and closed again without uttering a word.

There was a portentous composure in Frank's manner which showed that he had other news to communicate than the news of his dismissal.

He answered his father's sardonic look of inquiry by at once explaining that a very important proposal for his future benefit had been made to him, that morning, at the office.