“I don't think I ever had a sadder walk in my life, Dinah,” said Peter Barrington, with a weary sigh. “'Till I got into the courts of the College, I never chanced upon a spot that looked as I had left it. There, indeed, was the quaint old square as of old, and the great bell--bless it for its kind voice!--was ringing out a solemn call to something, that shook the window-frames, and made the very air tremulous; and a pale-faced student or two hurried past, and those centurions in the helmets,--ancient porters or Senior Fellows,--I forget which,--stood in a little knot to stare at me. That, indeed, was like old times, Dinah, and my heart grew very full with the memory. After that I strolled down to the Four Courts. I knew you 'd laugh, Dinah. I knew well you 'd say, 'Was there nothing going on in the King's Bench or the Common Pleas?' Well, there was only a Revenue case, my dear, but it was interesting, very interesting; and there was my old friend Harry Bushe sitting as the Judge. He saw me, and sent round the tipstaff to have me come up and sit on the bench with him, and we had many a pleasant remembrance of old times--as the cross-examination went on--between us, and I promised to dine with him on Saturday.” “And on Saturday we will dine at Antwerp, brother, if I know anything of myself.” “Sure enough, sister, I forgot all about it Well, well, where could my head have been?” “Pretty much where you have worn it of late years, Peter Barrington. And what of Withering? Did you see him?” “No, Dinah, he was attending a Privy Council; but I got his address, and I mean to go over to see him after dinner.” “Please to bear in mind that you are not to form any engagements, Peter,--we leave this to-morrow evening by the packet,--if it was the Viceroy himself that wanted your company.” “Of course, dear, I never thought of such a thing. It was only when Harry said, 'You 'll be glad to meet Casey and Burrowes, and a few others of the old set,' I clean forgot everything of the present, and only lived in the long-past time, when life really was a very jolly thing.” “How did you find your friend looking?” “Old, Dinah, very old! That vile wig has, perhaps, something to say to it; and being a judge, too, gives a sternness to the mouth and a haughty imperiousness to the brow. It spoils Harry; utterly spoils that laughing blue eye, and that fine rich humor that used to play about his lips.” “Which _did_, you ought to say,--which did some forty years ago. What are you laughing at, Peter? What is it amuses you so highly?”