seriously you ought
to reflect before you allow her to take such a risk."

She looked anxiously toward the door. At that moment it opened, and the
office-boy entered. She rose instantly, and Mrs. Stiles had to follow
her example. Mrs. Tarbell represented to herself that the rain would not
hurt her, and that Mrs. Stiles must be got rid of, and, feeling that
this could now be accomplished, smiled at Mrs. Stiles in a friendly and
reassuring manner.

"Who was the gentleman who was ten years before he got any work to do?"
said Mrs. Stiles, standing up very crooked and looking very bewildered.

"Oh," said Mrs. Tarbell glibly, "that has happened to a great many
lawyers. Let me see: I can't at this moment
recall--Chief-Justice--no--Lord--Lord--Eldon," she mumbled hastily,
"and Lord-Kilgobbin, and Chief-Justice Coleridge, all had to wait a--a
longer or a shorter time. In fact, it is very often a matter of chance
that a lawyer obtains any business at all." She walked past Mrs. Stiles,
and took up her umbrella. Mrs. Stiles followed her with an irresolute
glance. Mrs. Tarbell put on her ulster.

"Celandine will be dreadful disappointed," said Mrs. Stiles, in a
mournful tone. "And, dear me, Mrs. Tarbell, I never said a word to you
about what she's like; and me so proud of her, too."

In spite of her success, Mrs. Tarbell was by no means satisfied with
herself, and the pathetic note in Mrs. Stiles's voice proved too much
for her. "Mrs. Stiles," she said, turning round quickly, "perhaps I have
been putting one side of the matter too strongly before you. If you will
bring your daughter here some morning, we can discuss the subject
together for a little while, and I can advise her definitely as to what
course I think she had better pursue."

The expression of Mrs. Stiles's face changed a little; she seemed to be
surprised and gratified; but it was evident that the overthrow of her
delusions in regard to the remunerative character of the legal
profession had saddened and disturbed her. "It's right kind of you to
take so much trouble, Mrs. Tarbell," she said, buttoning up her
gossamer. "I feel as grateful to you as _can_ be; but I don't think I'll
tell Celandine all you've said, because--"

"Perhaps it would be wiser," said Mrs. Tarbell impatiently.

"And then, in a week or so--"

"Precisely; a week or so." Mrs. Tarbell found that _precisely_ was a
very short and lawyer-like word, so she repeated it.

"Well, then--" said Mrs.