I've not seen the like o' this since the great year--forty-eight.

There they are--the aristocrats!" Following the direction of that skinny hand Courtier saw on a balcony Lord and Lady Valleys, side by side, looking steadily down at the crowd.
There too, leaning against a window and talking to someone behind, was Barbara.

The old man went on muttering, and Courtier could see that his eyes had grown very bright, his whole face transfigured by intense hostility; he felt drawn to this old creature, thus moved to the very soul.

Then he saw Barbara looking down at him, with her hand raised to her temple to show that she saw his bandaged head.

He had the presence of mind not to lift his hat.
The old man spoke again.
"You wouldn't remember forty-eight, I suppose.