“How will you aid her?”

“Through her right attorney, if my advice as to the choice be followed.  You know James Orton?”

“Yes.”

“He is a young man to be relied upon.  Let Mrs. Dewey put the case in his hands.  If she does so, it will be, virtually, in mine.”

“Enough, Mr. Wallingford,” said I.  “It looks more hopeful for our poor unhappy friend, against whom even her own flesh and blood have turned.”

When I gave Constance the result of my interview with Mr. Wallingford, she was quite elated at the prospect of securing his most valuable aid for Mrs. Dewey.  Orton was young, and had been practising at the bar for only a couple of years.  Up to this time he had not appeared in any case of leading importance; and had, therefore, no established reputation.  Our fear was that Mrs. Dewey might not be willing to place her case in such inexperienced hands.  In order to have the matter settled with as little delay as possible, Constance paid an early visit to the Allen House, and suggested Mr. Orton as counsel.  Mrs. Dewey had not even heard his name; but, after being assured that I had the fullest confidence in him, and particularly advised his employment, she consented to accept of his services.

Their first interview was arranged to take place at my house, and in the presence of my wife, when the notice Mrs. Dewey had received on the institution of proceedings, was placed in the young lawyer’s hands, and some conversation had as to the basis and tenor of an answer.  A second interview took place on the day following, at which Mrs. Dewey gave a full statement of the affair at Saratoga, and asserted her innocence in the most solemn and impressive manner.  The letter from her husband to the lady in New York, was produced, and at the request of Mr. Orton, given into his possession.

The answer to Mr. Dewey’s application for a divorce was drawn up by Mr. Wallingford, who entered with great earnestness into the matter.  It was filed in court within a week after notice of the application was received.  This was altogether unexpected by the husband, who, on becoming aware of the fact, lost all decent control of himself, and ordered his wretched wife to leave his house.  This, however, she refused to do.  Then she had her father’s angry opposition to brave.  But she remained firm.

“He will cover you with infamy, if you dare to persevere in this mad opposition,” he said.  And she answered—­

“The infamy may recoil upon his own head.  I am innocent—­I will not be such a traitor to virtue as to let silence declare me guilty.”

There was a pause, now, for a few weeks.  The unhappy state of affairs at the Allen House made it hardly proper for my wife to continue her visits there, and Mrs. Dewey did not venture to call upon her.  The trial of the case would not come up for some two or three months, and both parties were waiting, in stern resolution, for the approaching contest.