He belongs to a disappearing type of country lawyer, and is the wreck, perhaps, of high hopes and good opportunities.

Yet, wreck as he is, when he gets up at the Petty Sessions to defend some labourer, the bench of magistrates listen to his maundering argument as deferentially as if he were a Q.C.They pity him, and they respect his cloth.

The scrubby attorney whistles a tune, and utters an oath when he learns the principal is engaged.

Then he marches out, with his hat on one side of his head, to take another 'refresher.' Two telegrams arrive, and are thrown aside; then a gentleman appears, whom the senior goes out to meet with an air of deference, and whom he actually conducts himself upstairs to the principal's room.

It is a local banker, who is thus admitted to the directors' consultation.