unceremonious manner in which he had left her,
and the softness of regretful affection imbued in its hallowing colours
even the image of Piggy Lob.

In conversation of this intellectual and domestic description, the night
and ensuing morning passed away, till Paul found himself in the awful
presence of Justice Burnflat. Several cases were disposed of before his
own; and among others Mr. Duminie Dunnaker obtained his release, though
not without a severe reprimand for his sin of inebriety, which no doubt
sensibly affected the ingenuous spirit of that noble character. At
length Paul's turn came. He heard, as he took his station, a general
buzz. At first he imagined it was at his own interesting appearance;
but raising his eyes, he perceived that it was at the entrance of the
gentleman who was to become his accuser.

"Hush," said some one near him, "'t is Lawyer Brandon. Ah, he's a 'cute
fellow! it will go hard with the person he complains of."

There was a happy fund of elasticity of spirit about our hero; and
though he had not the good fortune to have "a blighted heart,"--a
circumstance which, by the poets and philosophers of the present day,
is supposed to inspire a man with wonderful courage, and make him
impervious to all misfortunes,--yet he bore himself up with wonderful
courage under his present trying situation, and was far from
overwhelmed, though he was certainly a little damped, by the observation
he had just heard.

Mr. Brandon was, indeed, a barrister of considerable reputation, and
in high esteem in the world, not only for talent, but also for a great
austerity of manners, which, though a little mingled with sternness and
acerbity for the errors of other men, was naturally thought the more
praiseworthy on that account; there being, as persons of experience
are doubtless aware, two divisions in the first class of
morality,--imprimis, a great hatred for the vices of one's neighbour;
secondly, the possession of virtues in one's self.

Mr. Brandon was received with great courtesy by Justice Burnflat; and
as he came, watch in hand (a borrowed watch), saying that his time
was worth five guineas a moment, the justice proceeded immediately to
business.

Nothing could be clearer, shorter, or more satisfactory than the
evidence of Mr. Brandon. The corroborative testimony of the watchman
followed; and then Paul was called upon for his defence. This
was equally brief with the charge; but, alas! it was not equally