Sir Brook Fossbrooke Volume I Part 41

"I mean, my Lord, it would have grieved me much had I occasioned you an inconvenience."

"If you had, sir, it might have reacted injuriously upon yourself."

Sewell bowed submissively, for what he knew not; but he surmised that as there was an opening for regret, there might also be a reason for grat.i.tude; he waited to see if he were right.

"My telegram only told you that I wanted you; it could not say for what," continued the Judge; and his voice still retained the metallic ring the late irritation had lent it.

"There has been a contested question between the Crown and myself as to the patronage to an office in my Court. I have carried my point. They have yielded. They would have me believe that they have submitted out of deference to myself personally, my age, and long services. I know better, sir. They have taken the opinion of the Solicitor-General in England, who, with no flattering opinion of what is called 'Irish law,'

has p.r.o.nounced against them. The gift of the office rests with me, and it is my intention to confer it upon _you_."

"Oh, my Lord, I have no words to express my grat.i.tude!"

"Very well, sir, it shall be a.s.sumed to have been expressed. The salary is one thousand a year. The duties are almost nominal."

"I was going to ask, my Lord, whether my education and habits are such as would enable me to discharge these duties?"

"I respect your conscientious scruple, sir. It is creditable and commendable. Your mind may, however, be at ease. Your immediate predecessor pa.s.sed the last thirteen years at Tours, in France, and there was never a complaint of official irregularity till, three years ago, when he came over to afford his subst.i.tute a brief leave of absence, he forgot to sign his name to certain doc.u.ments,--a mistake the less pardonable that his signature formed his whole and sole official drudgery."

It was on Sewell's lips to say, "that if _he_ had not signed his name a little too frequently in life, his difficulties would not have been such as they now were."

"I am afraid I did not catch what you said, sir," said the Judge.

"I did not speak, my Lord," replied he, bowing.

"You will see, therefore, sir, that the details of your official life need not deter you, although I have little doubt the Ministerial press will comment sharply upon your absence, if you give them the opportunity, and will reflect severely upon your unfitness, if they can detect a flaw in you. Is there anything, therefore, in your former life to which these writers can refer--I will not say disparagingly--but unpleasantly?"

"I am not aware, my Lord, of anything."

"Of course, sir, I could not mean what might impugn your honor or affect your fame. I spoke simply of what soldiers are, perhaps, more exposed to than civilians,--the lighter scandals of society. You apprehend me?"

"I do, my Lord; and, I repeat that I have a very easy conscience on this score: for though I have filled some rather responsible stations at times, and been intrusted with high functions, all my tastes and habits have been so domestic and quiet--I have been so much more a man of home than a man of pleasure--that I have escaped even the common pa.s.sing criticisms bestowed on people who are before the world."

"Is this man--this Sir Brook Fossbrooke--one likely to occasion you any trouble?"

"In the first place, my Lord, he is out of the country, not very likely to return to it; and secondly, it is not in his power--not in any man 's power--to make me a subject for attack."

"You are fortunate, sir; more fortunate than men who have served their country longer. It will scarcely be denied that I have contributed to the public service, and yet, sir, _I_ have been arraigned before the bar of that insensate jury they call Public Opinion, and it is only in denying the jurisdiction I have deferred the award."

Sewell responded to the vainglorious outburst by a look of admiring wonder, and the Judge smiled a gracious acceptance of the tribute. "I gather, therefore, sir, that you can accept this place without fear of what scandal or malignity may a.s.sail you by--"

"Yes, my Lord, I can say as much with confidence."

"It is necessary, sir, that I should be satisfied on this-head. The very essence of the struggle between the Crown and myself is in the fact that _my_ responsibility is pledged, _my_ reputation is in bond for the integrity and the efficiency of this officer, and I will not leave to some future biographer of the Irish Chief Barons of the Exchequer the task of apology for one who was certainly not the least eminent of the line."

"Your Lords.h.i.+p's high character shall not suffer through me," said Sewell, bowing respectfully.

"The matter, then, is so far settled; perhaps, however, you would like to consult your wife? She might be averse to your leaving the army."

"No, my Lord. She wishes--she has long wished it. We are both domestic in our tastes, and we have always-been looking to the time when we could live more for each other, and devote ourselves to the education of our children."'

"Commendable and praiseworthy," said the Judge, with a half grunt, as though he had heard something of this-same domesticity and home-happiness, but that his own experiences scarcely corroborated the report. "There are-certain steps you will have to take before leaving the service; it may, then, be better to defer your public nomination to this post till they be taken?"

This, which was said in question, Sewell answered at once, saying, "There need be no delay on this score, my Lord; by this day week I shall be free."

"On this day week, then, you shall be duly sworn in. Now, there is another point--I throw it out simply as a suggestion--you will not receive it as more if you are indisposed to it. It may be some time before you can find a suitable house or be fully satisfied where to settle down. There is ample room here; one entire wing is unoccupied.

May I beg to place it at your disposal?"

"Oh, my Lord, this is really too much kindness. You overwhelm me with obligations. I have never heard of such generosity."

"Sir, it is not all generosity,--I reckon much on the value of your society. Your companionable qualities are gifts I would secure by a 'retainer.'"

"In your society, my Lord, the benefits would be all on my side."

"There was a time, sir,--I may say it without boastful-ness,--men thought me an agreeable companion. The three Chiefs, as we were called from our separate Courts, were reputed to be able talkers. I am the sole survivor; and it would be a gain to those who care to look back on the really great days of Ireland, if some record should remain of a time when there were giants in the land. I have myself some very curious materials--ma.s.ses of letters and such-like--which we may turn over some winter's evening together."

Sewell professed his delight at such a prospect; and the Judge then, suddenly bethinking himself of the hour,--it was already nigh eleven,--arose. "Can I set you down anywhere? Are you for town?" asked he.

"Yes, my Lord; I was about to pay my mother a visit."

"I 'll drop you there; perhaps you would convey a message from me, and say how grateful I should feel if she would give us her company at dinner,--say seven o'clock. I will just step up to say good-bye to my granddaughter, and be with you immediately."

Sewell had not time to bethink him of all the strange events which a few minutes had grouped around him, when the Chief Baron appeared, and they set out.

As they drove along, their converse was most agreeable. Sewell's attentive manner was an admirable stimulant, and the old Judge was actually sorry to lose his companion, as the carriage stopped at Lady Lendrick's door.

"What on earth brought you up, Dudley?" said she, as he entered the room where she sat at breakfast.

"Let me have something to eat, and I 'll tell you," said he, seating himself at table, and drawing towards him a dish of cutlets. "You may imagine what an appet.i.te I have when I tell you whose guest I am."

"Whose?"

"Your husband's."

"You! at the Priory! and how came that to pa.s.s?"

"I told you already I must eat before I talk. When I got downstairs this morning, I found the old man just finis.h.i.+ng his breakfast, and instead of asking me to join him, he entertained me with the siege of Derry, and some choice anecdotes of Lord Bristol and 'the Volunteers.' This coffee is cold."

"Ring, and they 'll bring you some."

"If I am to take him as a type of Irish hospitality as well as Irish agreeability, I must say I get rid of two delusions together."

"There 's the coffee. Will you have eggs?"

"Yes, and a rasher along with them. You can afford to be liberal with the larder, mother, for I bring you an invitation to dine."

"At the Priory?"

"Yes; he said seven o'clock."