“I appeal to you, Beattie, and I ask if I have deserved this;” and the old Judge spoke with an air of such apparent sincerity as actually to impose upon the doctor. “The sarcasms of this man push my regard for him to the last intrenchment.” “Haire never meant it; he never intended to reflect upon you,” said Beattie, in a low tone. “He knows well enough that I did not,” said Haire, half sulky; for he thought the Chief was pushing his raillery too far. “I 'm satisfied,” said the Judge, with a sigh. “I suppose he can't help it. There are fencers who never believe they have touched you till they see the blood. Be it so; and now to go back. She went away and left the child with me, promising to take him up after paying a visit she had to make in the neighborhood. I was not sorry to have the little fellow's company. He was most agreeable, and, unlike Haire, he never made me his butt. Well, I have done; I will say no more on that head. I was actually sorry when she came to fetch him, and I believe I said so. What does that grunt mean, Haire?” “I did not speak.” “No, sir; but you uttered what implied an ironical assent,--a _nisi prius_ trick,--like the leer I have seen you bestow upon the jury-box. How hard it is for the cunning man to divest himself of the subtlety of his calling!” “I want to hear how it all ended,” muttered Haire. “You shall hear, sir, if you will vouchsafe me a little patience. When men are in the full vigor of their faculties, they should be tolerant to those footsore and weary travellers who, like myself, halt behind and delay the march. But bear in mind, Haire, I was not always thus. There was a time when I walked in the van. Ay, sir, and bore myself bravely too. I was talking with that child when they announced Mr. Balfour, the private secretary, a man most distasteful to me; but I told them to show him in, curious, indeed, to hear what new form of compromise they were about to propose to me. He had come with a secret and confidential message from the Viceroy, and really seemed distressed at having to speak before a child of six years old, so mysterious and reserved was he. He made a very long story of it,--full an hour; but the substance was this: The Crown had been advised to dispute my right of appointment to the registrarship, and to make a case for a jury; but--mark the 'but'--in consideration for my high name and great services, and in deference to what I might be supposed to feel from an open collision with the Government, they were still willing for an accommodation, and would consent to ratify any appointment I should make, other than that of the gentleman I had already named,--Colonel Sewell.