AT A ROSE-SHOW. 27 1 



his side (Greek lexicons for the most part, and Latin dic- 

 tionaries lent to him by the undergraduates), and consulted 

 them from time to time, during his trial, upon difficult 

 points of law. He bowed to the court at intervals with a 

 most profound respect, and he addressed the Doctor as 

 ''My Lord Judge," "Your Grace," and "Venerable Sir." 

 But when the verdict was given, and the defendant heavily 

 fined, I never saw anything in dissolving views so marvel- 

 lous as Tom Perrin. He set his hat jauntily on the side of 

 his head ; he shut his lexicons with a bang, and, confront- 

 ing his judge with a look of scorn and disgust, he said — 



" MacBride, if this be law, hequity, or justice, I'm ," 



well, let us say, something which happens to a brook when 

 its waters are arrested by a temporary barrier constructed 

 across the stream. 



So does our irascible exhibitor now glare around him 

 with "the dragon eyes of angered Eleanor." He would 

 like a revival of those days when "a judge was not sacred 

 from violence. Any one might interrupt him, might accuse 

 him of iniquity and corruption in the most reproachful 

 terms, and, throwing down his gauntlet, might challenge 

 him to defend his integrity in the field ; nor could he with- 

 out infamy refuse to accept his defiance, or decline to enter 



