which went
deeper to my feelings. My old father, who had taken so strong a view
against my going to the Bar, and who told me so mournfully that after
five years I must sink or swim; my old father, who had never once seen
me in my wig and gown from that day to this, the almost closing scene
in my forensic career, came into court and sat by my side when I made
successfully the greatest effort of my life.

CHAPTER XXIX.

A VISIT TO SHEFFIELD--MRS. HAILSTONE'S DANISH BOARHOUND.

The remembrance of my Sessions days will never vanish from my mind,
although at the period of which I am speaking they had long receded
into the distant past. Even _Nisi Prius_ was diminishing in
importance, although increasing in its business and fees.

Solicitors no longer condescended to deliver their briefs, but
competed for my services. I say this without the smallest vanity,
and only because it was the fact, and a great fact in my life. I was
wanted to win causes by advocacy or compromise; and the innumerable
compensation cases which continually came in with so steady and
so full a tide were a sufficient proof that, at all events, the
solicitors and others thought my services worth having. So did my
clerk!

Those were the days of the golden harvest, the very gleanings of which
were valuable to those who came after.

Lloyd must have made L20,000 a year with the greatest ease. What my
income was is of no consequence to any one; suffice it to say that no
expectations of mine ever came up to its amount, and even now when
I look back it seems absolutely fabulous. I will say no more,
notwithstanding the curiosity it has excited amongst the members of
the profession.

Of course it was a step for me from the humble "_one three six_;" but
I have had a more lively satisfaction from that little sum than from
many a larger fee.

In the midst of all this rush of London business I still found time
to run down to country places in cases of election petitions or
compensation.

One day I found myself on my way to Sheffield to support the member
against an attempt to deprive him of his seat in Parliament. I went
with the Hon. Sir Edward Chandos Leigh, my distinguished junior on
that memorable occasion.

The journey was pleasant until we got near the end of it, and then
the smoke rolled over and around in voluminous dense clouds, for a
description of which you may search in vain through "Paradise Lost."
We were met at the station with grea