“He asks, also, if Tom could not come over for the wedding, which he trusts may not be long deferred,--as he said with a laugh, 'At _my_ time of life, Sir Brook, it is best to leave as little as possible to _Nisi Prius._'” “You must tell me all these again, Sir Brook, or I shall inevitably forget them,” whispered Haire in his ear. “And shall I tell you, Lendrick, what I liked best in all I saw of him?” said Sir Brook, as he slipped his arm within the other's, and drew him towards a window. “It was the way he said to me, as I rose to leave the room, 'One word more, Sir Brook. We are all very happy, and, in consequence, very selfish. Let us not forget that there is one sad heart here,--that there is one upstairs there who can take no part in all this joy. What shall we, what can we, do for her?' I knew whom he meant at once,--poor Mrs. Sewell; and I was glad to tell him that I had already thought of her. 'She will join her husband,' said I, 'and I will take care that they have wherewithal to live on.' “'I must share in whatever you do for her, Sir Brook,' said your father; 'she has many attractive qualities; she has some lovable ones. Who is to say what such a nature might not have been, if spared the contamination of such a husband?' “I'm afraid I shocked, if I did not actually hurt him, by the way I grasped his hands in my gratitude for this speech. I know I said, 'God bless you for those words!' and I hurried out of the room.” “Ah, _you_ know him, sir!--_you_ read him aright! And how few there are who do it!” cried Haire, warmly. The old Judge was too weak to appear in the drawing-room; but when the company entered the dining-room, they found him seated at the table, and, though pale and wasted, with a bright eye and a clear, fresh look. “I declare,” said he, as they took their places, “this repays one for illness. No, Lucy,--opposite me, my dear. Yes, Tom, of course; that is your place,--your old place;” and he smiled benignly as he said it. “Is there not a place too many, Lucy?” “Yes, grandpapa. It was for Mrs. Sewell, but she sent me a line to say she had promised Lady Lendrick to dine with her.” The old Chief's eyes met Fossbrooke's, and in the glances they exchanged there was much meaning. “I cannot eat, Sir Brook, till we have had a glass of wine together. Beattie may look as reproachfully as he likes, but it shall be a bumper. This old room has great traditions,” he went on. “Curran and Avonmore and Parsons, and others scarce their inferiors, held their tournaments here.” “I have my doubts if they had a happier party round the board than we have to-night,” said Haire. “We only want Tom,” said Dr. Lendrick. “If we had poor Tom with us, it would be perfect.” “I think I know of another too,” whispered Beattie in Lucy's ear. “Don't you?”