“Alexander, I have a client,” said Mrs. Tarbell.

“Do you tell me so?” replied Mr. Juddson absently, as he redisarranged the papers upon his table.  “I hope—­Bless me, where is that—?  Mrs. Tarbell, have you seen anything of an envelope?—­John, what became of the papers in Muggins and Bylow?  I gave them to you.”

Mrs. Tarbell, deeply mortified, resumed her occupation, and completed the precipe by writing the words, “Tarbell, pro plff.”

Mr. Juddson’s papers were found for him, under his nose, and he was beginning to say that he was going out to lunch, when the enormity of his conduct made itself apparent to him.

“By George!” he said, stopping short, “you told me you had a client at last, eh, Mrs. Tarbell?”

“Yes,” said Mrs. Tarbell coldly.

“Why,—­bless my soul!  It’s your first client, is it not?  And what kind of a case has your ewe-lamb brought you?  Come, tell me about it.  I did not properly appreciate the communication.”  And he went over to Mrs. Tarbell’s desk, upon which he sat himself down in a position which Mrs. Tarbell had formerly considered very undignified; but now she could not help feeling that it was really a legal attitude.

She looked up with a smile, and then, though with a little shame, displayed the precipe.

“Well, that’s good,” said Mr. Juddson.  “Accident case, I suppose.  What is it?  Death, and damages for the widow?—­for I see there are no children,—­or was the plaintiff herself the victim of the accident?  Your sex has finally decided to stand by you, it seems.”

“I shan’t send out the writ just yet,” said Mrs. Tarbell, blushing.  “I was—­wanted to see how the precipe would look.  I must see the plaintiff again, I think, before I advise her definitely to sue.”

“Hasn’t she a case?”

“Yes—­but—­”

“What nonsense!” cried Juddson.  “Come, my dear, don’t be a goose, and don’t lose a return-day.  Otherwise, I shall buy you a sewing-machine.”

“Aren’t you pleased, Alexander?” said Mrs. Tarbell, with a little effusion.

“My dear, I’m delighted.  I hope that in five years’ time you will be supporting me and my family.  Your sister-in-law will be speechless with jealousy.  I congratulate you.  Hum—­The Blank and Dash Avenues Company?  Well, you won’t have to send John very far with your copies of the pleadings.  Pope was appointed attorney for the company last week, in place of old Slyther, who resigned, you know.”

“Pope?” said Mrs. Tarbell.

“Yes,—­the Honorable Franklin.”

“Goodness!” said Mrs. Tarbell, in a tone of inexpressible disgust.

“By jingo; you are not fond of him, are you?  Hem!  Well, as a general rule, I should advise you to put personal feelings entirely out of the question; but, as this is your first case, perhaps it would be just as well for you to have me with you, and let me—­hum—­well, let me take the jury.”