All this sight-seeing took up many days; three weeks slipped by before anybody realized it, and Dr. Kingsley was talking of a trip to the Continent, when a little incident occurred of which I must tell you.

Rex and his American cousins had become the best of friends.  He knew all about their pretty home in Orange, about Ned and the rabbits, Fritz, the bicycling, and the tennis playing, while they in their turn took the deepest interest in his country and Eton experiences.  They took “bus” rides together, and played jokes on the pompous footman, whom Charlie had nicknamed the “S.  C.” (Superb Creature).

One morning Rex and our two boys went to Justice Barrington’s chambers.  There they expected to find Dr. Kingsley, but when they arrived only Jarvis, the solemn-faced old servitor, met them.  He showed them into the inner room and left them to their own devices, saying that “his ludship and the reverend doctor” would, no doubt, soon be in.

The room was very dark; three sides were covered with uninteresting-looking law books, and after gazing out of the window, which overlooked a quiet little church-yard where the monuments and headstones were falling into decay, the three boys were at a loss what to do with themselves.  Charlie and Selwyn would have liked a walk about the neighborhood, but Reginald demurred.  “It’s a horrid bore being shut up here,” he admitted frankly, “but papa might return while we were out, and I’m not sure that he would like to find us away.  I wish I could think of some way to amuse you.  Oh, I know—­we were talking about barristers’ robes the other day; I’ll show you papa’s gown and wig.  I know where Jarvis keeps them.  Wouldn’t you like to see them?”

“Indeed we should,” responded the American boys.  So, after hunting for the key, Rex opened what he called a “cupboard” (though Charlie and Selwyn thought it a closet), where hung a long black silk robe, very similar in style to those worn by our bishops in America.  This he brought out; next, from a flat wooden box, which looked very old and black, he drew a large, white, curly wig.  The boys looked at these with eager interest.  “These are like what are worn in the Houses of Parliament,” said Charlie.  “What a funny idea to wear such a dress.”

“I think it’s a very nice idea,” Rex answered, quickly.  “I assure you the judges and the barristers look very imposing in their robes and wigs.”

“I expect to be a lawyer one of these days; wouldn’t I astonish the American public if I appeared in such a costume?” said Charlie, laughing.  “I wonder how I’d look in it?”

“Try it on and see,” suggested Rex.

“Oh, do, do, Charlie! it’ll be such fun!” pleaded Selwyn.  So, nothing loth, Charlie slipped on the long black silk robe, then Rex and Selwyn arranged the thin white muslin bands at his throat, and settled the big white wig on his head.  His soft, dark hair was brushed well off his face so that not a lock escaped from beneath the wig, and when he put on a pair of Uncle Geof’s spectacles, which lay conveniently near, the boys were convulsed with laughter at his appearance.