“I—­I—­” began Mrs. Tarbell, in some confusion.

“Beg pardon?” said the doctor.  “Well, I must be off.  I’ve done all I can for the poor woman.  She ought to send for her own doctor as soon as she gets home.  I suppose—­will you—?” He looked at Mrs. Tarbell doubtfully, as if wondering whether he ought to take it for granted that she was in charge of the case.

“I will tell her,” said Mrs. Tarbell.

“I could tell her myself,” said the doctor.  “To be sure.  Well, if I could only inform her lawyer what I’ve done for him, he might induce my fair patient to employ me permanently.”  He smiled at his joke, shook his head waggishly, and turned to look for his hat.

As Mrs. Tarbell looked after him in some perplexity, John, the office-boy, came back to report that the carriage was engaged and at the door; and Mrs. Stiles was presently carried down-stairs again, it being quite impossible for her even to limp.

But before she was lifted up she turned her head and beckoned to Mrs. Tarbell.

“Could I,” she said,—­“could I have a case against the railway company?”

“Ye-es,—­I suppose so,” Mrs. Tarbell answered.

“Did they say it was the fault of the conductor that I fell off that car?”

“Of the driver,—­yes.”

“Well, then, ma’am, would you advise me to bring a case against them?”

“You had better decide for yourself,” said Mrs. Tarbell faintly.  But then, remembering that it was her duty to advise, she added, “Yes, I think you ought to sue.”

“Then you’ll take the case, Mrs. Tarbell, won’t you, please?” said Mrs. Stiles, closing her eyes again, as if satisfied of the future.

Mrs. Tarbell!  There was a general movement of surprise as the lady lawyer’s name was pronounced, and the doctor was so much taken aback that heh burst out laughing.

“I’m sure I beg your pardon, Mrs. Tarbell,” he cried.  “I had no idea in the world—­”

“Ah,” said Stethson, “I looked at the sign on the door coming in.  I knew it was the lady lawyer.  My, if my wife could see you, Mrs. Tarbell!”

“And I never knew who I was talking to!” grumbled Mecutchen disgustedly.

A quarter of an hour later, when Mr. Juddson returned to his office, Mrs. Tarbell was engaged in drawing up a paper which ran as follows: 

ANNETTE GORSLEY STILES } Court of Common
vs. } Pleas.
THE BLANK AND DASH } May Term, 1883.
AVENUES PASSENGER } No. ——­
RAILWAY CO. }

To the Prothonotary of the said Court: 

Issue summons in case returnable the first
Monday in May, 1883.

TARBELL,
pro plff.

It was a precipe for a writ.

“Alexander!” said Mrs. Tarbell, in an expressive voice, regardless of the office-boy.

“Yes?” said Mr. Juddson.  The referee had refused to admit some of his testimony.