CHAPTER XXVII. THE TRIAL.

sdestinedtohavesomethingofanaudienceinhisfirstpleafor,theGordonsbeinganinfluentialandalargely-connectedfamily,therewasquiteaninterestexcitedamongthemintheaffair.Claytonalsohadmanywarmpersonalfriends,andhisfather,mother,andsisterweretobepresentfor,thoughresidinginadifferentpartofthestate,theywereatthistimeonavisitinthevicinityofthetownofE. Thereissomethinginthefirstessayofayoungman,inanyprofession,likethefirstlaunchingofaship,whichhasanever-ceasingholdonhumansympathies.Clayton'sfather,mother,andsister,withNina,atthetimeofthedialoguewehavegiven,weresittingtogetherintheparlorofafriend'shouseinE.,discussingthesameevent. "Iamsurethathewillgetthecase,"saidAnneClayton,withtheconfidenceofagenerouswomanandwarm-heartedsister."Hehasbeenshowingmethecourseofhisargument,anditisperfectlyirresistible.Hashesaidanythingtoyouaboutit,father?" JudgeClaytonhadbeenwalkingupanddowntheroom,withhishandsbehindhim,withhisusualairofconsiderategravity.StoppingshortatAnne'squestion,hesaid,— "Edward'smindandmineworksodifferently,thatIhavenotthoughtbesttoembarrasshimbyanyconferenceonthesubject.Iconsiderthecaseanunfortunateone,andwouldratherhecouldhavehadsomeother." "Why,"saidAnne,eagerly,"don'tyouthinkhe'llgainit?" "Notifthecasegoesaccordingtolaw,"saidJudgeClayton."But,then,Edwardhasagreatdealofpowerofeloquence,andagooddealofskillinmakingadiversionfromthemainpointsothat,perhaps,hemaygetthecase." "Why,"saidNina,"Ithoughtcaseswerealwaysdecidedaccordingtolaw!Whatelsedotheymakelawsfor?" "Youareveryinnocent,mychild,"saidJudgeClayton. "But,father,theproofoftheoutrageismostabundant.Nobodycouldpretendtojustifyit." "Nobodywill,child.Butthat'snothingtothecase.Thesimplepointis,didthemanexceedhislegalpower?It'smyimpressionhedidnot." "Father,whatahorribledoctrine!"saidAnne. "Isimplyspeakofwhatis,"saidJudgeClayton."Idon'tpretendtojustifyit.ButEdwardhasgreatpowerofexcitingthefeelings,andundertheinfluenceofhiseloquencethecasemaygotheotherway,andhumanitytriumphattheexpenseoflaw." Clayton'spleacameonintheafternoon,andjustifiedtheexpectationsofhisfriends.Hispersonalpresencewasgood,hisvoicemelodious,andhiselocutionfine.Butwhatimpressedhisauditors,perhaps,morethanthese,wasacertainelevationandclearnessinthemoralatmospherearoundhim,—agravityandearnestnessofconvictionwhichgaveasecretpowertoallhesaid.Hetookupthedoctrineofthedependentrelationsoflife,andofthoserulesbywhichtheyshouldbeguidedandrestrainedandshowedthatwhileabsolutepowerseemstobeanecessaryconditionofmanyrelationsoflife,bothreasonandcommonsensedictatecertainlimitstoit."Thelawguarantee