CHAPTER XXVII. THE TRIAL.

esurroundingatmosphereagainsthim. Infact,theresultwas,thatthejudgechargedthejury,iftheyfoundthechastisementtohavebeendisproportionateandcruel,togiveverdictfortheplaintiff.Thejury,withlittlediscussion,gaveitunanimously,accordingly,andsoClayton'sfirstcausewaswon. Ifeverawomanfeelsproudofherlover,itiswhensheseeshimasasuccessfulpublicspeakerandNina,whenthecasewasover,stoodhalf-laughing,half-blushing,inacircleofladies,whoalternatelycongratulatedandralliedheronClayton'striumph. "Ah,"saidFrankRussel,"weunderstandthemagic.Theknightalwaysfightswellwhenhislady-lovelooksdown!MissGordonmusthavethecreditofthis.Shetookallthestrengthoutoftheotherside,—likethemountainofloadstone,thatusedtodrawallthenailsoutoftheship." "Iamglad,"saidJudgeClayton,ashewalkedhomewithhiswife,"IamverygladthatEdwardhasmetwithsuchsuccess.HisnatureissofastidiousthatIhavehadmyfearsthathewouldnotadheretothelaw.Therearemanythingsinit,Igrant,whichwouldnaturallyoffendafastidiousmind,andonewhich,likehis,isalwaysidealizinglife." "Hehasestablishedanobleprinciple,"saidMrs.Clayton. "Iwishhehad,"saidthejudge."Itwouldbeaveryungratefultask,butIcouldhaveshatteredhisargumentalltopieces." "Don'ttellhimso!"saidMrs.Clayton,apprehensively"lethimhavethecomfortofit." "CertainlyIshall.Edwardisagoodfellow,andIhope,afterawhile,he'lldrawwellintheharness." Meanwhile,FrankRusselandWillJoneswerewalkingalonginanotherdirection. "Didn'tItellyouso?"saidRussel."Yousee,ClaytonrunBedforddown,horseandfoot,andmadeusallassolemnasapreparatorylecture." "Buthehadagoodargument,"saidJones. "Tobesurehehad—Ineverknewhimtowantthat.Hebuildsupsplendidarguments,always,andtheonlythingtobesaidofhim,afterit'sallover,is,itisn'tsoit'snosuchthing.Barkeristerriblewroth,Icanassureyou.Heswearshe'llappealthecase.Butthat'snomatter.Claytonhashadhisdayallthesame.Heisevidentlywakedup.Oh,hehasnomoreobjectiontoalittlepopularitythanyouandIhave,nowandifwecouldhumorhimalong,aswewouldatrout,weshouldhavehimafirst-ratelawyer,oneofthesedays.DidyouseeMissGordonwhilehewaspleading?ByGeorge!shelookedsohandsome,IwassorryIhadn'ttakenhermyself!" "IsshethatdashinglittleflirtingMissGordonthatIheardofinNewYork?" "Theverysame." "Howcameshetotakeafancytohim?" "She?HowdoIknow?She'sasfullofstreaksasatulipandherlikingforhimisoneofthem.Didyounoticeher,Will?—scarfflyingoneway,andlittlecurls,andpennants,andstreamers,andveil,theother!And,then,thoseeyes!She'salive,everyinchofher!Sheputsmeinmindofasweet-brierbush,winkingandblinking,fullofdew-drops,fullofroses,andbrisklittlethorns,beside!Ah,she'llkeephimawake!"