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Circumstance not worth recurring, which however was visible to those who followed your Excellency's departure, showed - that your departure was considered by the Chief Justice a little premature.
I certainly thought, and think still, that the Chief Justice had taken too much wine for the maintenance of his official dignity. That opinion was particularly induced by the absurd and silly way in which he received that toast - instead of honouring it in the usual manner, he endeavoured to raise a laugh, by enunciating at intervals and in a very ludicrous and absurd fashion, the monosyllable 'Hip', every time in a different tone & key, and dicey reps, in a kind of diminuendo cadence, with 'till - so - ke - died - away!' accompanying off with a 'Ha!'.
In the verandah he was loud. As I passed him he saluted me at the top of his voice, with 'Mr Austen! - What's the odds so long as you're happy?'.
Nearer the supper room.
Merely to get out of the long room, I proposed to him a stroll in the verandah. He cried out in a very noisy manner, 'Come along! let's have a turn, young man: I haven't ducked one yet!' and he went accordingly.
I cannot put my hand on the person, but I distinctly saw that the penalties of observation were to be cast upon me, instead of upon all the Company - but I...