Harry softly followed, and stood before him waiting to be recognized.
The old man looked up at last, and nodded his head.
"Been entertaining your friends, Mr. Maliphant?"
"Bob was here, only Bob. You have just missed Bob," he replied.
"That's a pity—never mind. Can you, my ancient, carry your memory back some twenty years? You did it, you know, last Sunday for me."
"Twenty years? Ay, ay—twenty years. I was only sixty-five or so then. It seems a long time until it is gone—twenty years! Well, young man, twenty years—why, it is only yesterday!"
"I mean to the time when Caroline Coppin, you know your old friend Caroline, was married."
"That was twenty years before, and more; when William the Fourth died and Queen Victoria (then a young thing) came long to reign over us——" His voice sank, and he continued the rest of his reminiscence to himself.
"But Caroline Coppin?"
"I'm telling you about Caroline Coppin, only you won't listen."