Moving On

           ItisthelongvacationintheregionsofChanceryLane.ThegoodshipsLawandEquity,thoseteak-built,copper-bottomed,iron-fastened,brazen-faced,andnotbyanymeansfast-sailingclippersarelaidupinordinary.TheFlyingDutchman,withacrewofghostlyclientsimploringallwhomtheymayencountertoperusetheirpapers,hasdrifted,forthetimebeing,heavenknowswhere.Thecourtsareallshutup;thepublicofficeslieinahotsleep.WestminsterHallitselfisashadysolitudewherenightingalesmightsing,andatendererclassofsuitorsthanisusuallyfoundthere,walk.TheTemple,ChanceryLane,Serjeants’Inn,andLincoln’sInnevenuntotheFieldsareliketidalharboursatlowwater,wherestrandedproceedings,officesatanchor,idleclerksloungingonlop-sidedstoolsthatwillnotrecovertheirperpendicularuntilthecurrentofTermsetsin,liehighanddryupontheoozeofthelongvacation.Outerdoorsofchambersareshutupbythescore,messagesandparcelsaretobeleftatthePorter’sLodgebythebushel.AcropofgrasswouldgrowinthechinksofthestonepavementoutsideLincoln’sInnHall,butthattheticket-porters,whohavenothingtodobeyondsittingintheshadethere,withtheirwhiteapronsovertheirheadstokeepthefliesoff,grubitupandeatitthoughtfully.Thereisonlyonejudgeintown.Evenheonlycomestwiceaweektositinchambers.Ifthecountryfolksofthoseassizetownsonhiscircuitcouldseehimnow!Nofull-bottomedwig,noredpetticoats,nofur,nojavelin-men,nowhitewands.