down. When he had finished and
read over the brief to her, and received her assurance that it was
correct, he arose to take his leave.

"But--will not all those witnesses cost a great deal of money? And
will not there be other heavy expenses apart from the services of
counsel that you are so good as to give me?" inquired the teacher
anxiously.

"Not for you," replied Ishmael, in a soothing voice, as he shook hands
with her, and, with the promise to see her again at the same hour the
next day, took his leave.

He smiled upon the little sisters as he passed them in the doorway,
and then left the schoolhouse and hurried on towards home.

"Well!" said Judge Merlin, who was waiting for him in the library,
"have you decided? Are you counsel for the plaintiff in the great suit
of Walsh versus Walsh?"

"No," answered Ishmael, "I am retained for the defendant. I have just
had a consultation with my client."

"Great Jove!" exclaimed the judge, in unbounded astonishment. "It was
raving madness in you to refuse the plaintiff's brief; but to accept
the defendant's--"

"I did not only accept it--I went and asked for it," said Ishmael,
smiling.

"Mad! mad! You will lose your first case; and that will throw back
your success for years!"

"I hope not, sir. 'Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just,'"
smiled Ishmael.

At the luncheon table that day the judge told the story of Ishmael's
quixotism, as he called it, in refusing the brief and the thumping fee
of the plaintiff, who had the law all on his side; and whom his
counsel would be sure to bring through victoriously; and taking in
hand the course of the defendant, who had no money to pay her counsel,
no law on her side, and who was bound to be defeated.

"But she has justice and mercy on her side; and it shall go hard but I
prove the law on her side, too."

"A forlorn hope, Ishmael, a forlorn hope!" said Mr. Middleton.

"Forlorn hopes are always led by heroes, papa," said Bee.

"And fools!" blurted out Judge Merlin.

Ishmael did not take offense, he knew all that was said was well
meant; the judge talked to him with the plainness of a parent; and
Ishmael rather enjoyed being affectionately blown up by Claudia's
father.

Miss Merlin now looked up, and condescended to say:

"I am very sorry, Ishmael, that you refused the rich client; he might
have been the making of you."

"The making of Ishmael. With the blessing of Heaven, he will make
himself! I am very