nfidence with which this question was put, and
in vain rummaged my memory for the means of replying. 'At least,' I
said, 'I always remember being called Darsie; children, at that early
age, seldom get more than their Christian name.'

'Oh, I thought so,' he replied, and again stretched himself on his seat,
in the same lounging posture as before.

'So you were called Darsie in your infancy,' said the Justice;
'and--hum--aye--when did you first take the name of Latimer?'

'I did not take it, sir; it was given to me.'

'I ask you,' said the lord of the mansion, but with less severity in his
voice than formerly, 'whether you can remember that you were ever called
Latimer, until you had that name given you in Scotland?'

'I will be candid: I cannot recollect an instance that I was so called
when in England, but neither can I recollect when the name was first
given me; and if anything is to be founded on these queries and my
answers, I desire my early childhood may be taken into consideration.'

'Hum--aye--yes,' said the Justice; 'all that requires consideration
shall be duly considered. Young man--eh--I beg to know the name of your
father and mother?'

This was galling a wound that has festered for years, and I did not
endure the question so patiently as those which preceded it; but
replied, 'I demand, in my turn, to know if I am before an English
Justice of the Peace?'

'His worship, Squire Foxley, of Foxley Hall, has been of the quorum
these twenty years,' said Master Nicholas.

'Then he ought to know, or you, sir, as his clerk, should inform him,'
said I, 'that I am the complainer in this case, and that my complaint
ought to be heard before I am subjected to cross-examination.'

'Humph--hoy--what, aye--there is something in that, neighbour,' said
the poor Justice, who, blown about by every wind of doctrine, seemed
desirous to attain the sanction of his brother squire.

'I wonder at you, Foxley,' said his firm-minded acquaintance; 'how can
you render the young man justice unless you know who he is?'

'Ha--yes--egad, that's true,' said Mr. Justice Foxley; 'and now--looking
into the matter more closely--there is, eh, upon the whole--nothing
at all in what he says--so, sir, you must tell your father's name, and
surname.'

'It is out of my power, sir; they are not known to me, since you must
needs know so much of my private affairs.'

The Justice collected a great AFFLATUS in his cheeks, which puffed them
up l