“The matter?” He stared for a moment, and then dropped his head and eyes again. “No, William, no. Nothing is the matter.” “If you could be persuaded to smarten yourself up a little, Frederick—” “Aye, aye!” said the old man hurriedly. “But I can’t be. I can’t be. Don’t talk so. That’s all over.” The Father of the Marshalsea glanced at a passing Collegian with whom he was on friendly terms, as who should say, “An enfeebled old man, this; but he is my brother, sir, my brother, and the voice of Nature