quite sure that in no long space of time you will have proved to us that the law cannot say it has nothing to gain from her refining influence.  For I remember my own mother, Mrs. Tarbell,” said Judge Measy.  The bar listened in awed admiration.  Mrs. Tarbell bit her lips, bowed, and thanked his honor as best she could.  The idea of suggesting that she was anybody’s mother, or that even if she had a family that was any reason for permitting her to be a barrister!  But from the other side of the court-room was heard an expressive rustling, and audible whispers of satisfaction were wafted across the lawyers on their chairs.  Mrs. Pegley and her train were sitting by, radiant, triumphant, majestic.  The dignity of motherhood was vindicated.

And now that Juddson and Tarbell were moving to their new offices, who should also at the very same time become a tenant of the Land and Water Insurance Company but the Honorable Franklin Blood Pope?  The Land and Water Company’s new building was in a very desirable locality, and several lawyers deserted their old nooks and corners to occupy its spacious and well-calcimined apartments.  Juddson and Tarbell took the rooms on the back of the third floor, Mr. Pope those on the front ditto:  they were very near neighbors.  In former days Mrs. Tarbell had often complained to her husband of Mr. Pope’s success.  It was an argument that men had not as much common sense as they pretended to have, she said, or else they would see through Franklin B——­’s absurd pretensions.  “Even I can perceive that the man is a humbug,” she continued.  “In fact, any woman could.  Why is he successful, then?  Why has he an enormous practice?  Why has he been sent to Congress?  If it is because he has a majestic appearance and can talk a great deal, women certainly can fulfill these conditions, and that by your own account of them.”

To which Mr. Tarbell would answer, “Exactly, my love, by all means; and so is your friend Mrs. Pegley a great talker, and a fine-looking woman.”

“Then give her all the rights you give to Mr. Pope,” cried Mrs. Tarbell.

“She shall have ’em, and welcome,” said Tarbell; but he did not tell his wife that he had voted for Mr. Pope on the opposition ticket, and had even consulted him on matters of business,—­once going so far as to suggest to him that a certain proposed alteration in the tariff would seriously affect the mourning-goods industry,—­from which it may be gathered that it was not from any lack of prudence that Mr. Tarbell died a bankrupt and left his widow to become a lady-lawyer.

Mr. Pope himself it was who betrayed Mr. Tarbell’s confidence and opened Mrs. Tarbell’s eyes.  “Your husband was my very good friend, my dear madam,” said the Honorable Franklin, “and I was proud to call him my client.  Yes, I had the honor of advising him in several matters and of carrying through some rather delicate negotiations for him.  A man of the strictest integrity, ever