down. Next, David?"

"Bob Francis. Capital, a cavalry officer's commission and a horse.
Interest, he'll ride."

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed a round chorus of the children.

"Silence in the court!" repeated David. "We wait for the Judge's
decision."

"Hm!--I wish you had it to do!" growled Norton, rubbing his head.
"Which is the best business of those two? Well, between diamonds and
horses, if you're shut up to them, I think a horse is the best stock in
trade."

"But the _business_--the interest," said Bob. "Ain't riding like a man
better than sitting or dressing to be stared at like a woman?"

"I think it's the most manly," Norton repeated.

"But not the most womanly?" said Esther.

"No, not the most womanly."

"Well, which is _best?_" somebody cried.

"Riding is the best for me," said Norton. "I should feel like a fool in
diamonds."

"A Hindoo rajah, or a Persian shah, or an Arab emir wouldn't feel so,"
suggested David.

"I am not a Hindoo nor an Arab, though," said Norton. "If I am to give
judgment I'll give it like a good American. And I say, that a saddle is
better than a jewel-box any day; and it's better in my judgment to ride
for one's life, than to make people's eyes wink with looking at you. Go
on, Recorder!"

"Hatty Delaplaine. Capital, a dressmaker and dry-goods unlimited.
Interest, nothing but new dresses."

"Riding is better than dressing," said the Judge. "Bob Francis has it
yet."

"But why is it better?" asked Miss Hatty. The Judge was a little at a
loss.

"I tell you what," said he, "my business is hard enough as it is; I
can't stand any aggravations. I'll take the sense of the assembly. All
who say as I do, hold up their hands."

But it was found that the judgments were essentially masculine and
feminine; the girls sided with Hatty, the boys with Bob.

"There's most good to be done by riding," said Norton.

"There ain't!" said Judy. "Dressing encourages the working people."

"And there's no good in riding at the head of soldiers," said Hatty.

"Well, it is a more noble occupation," said Norton.

"I don't see the nobility!" said Roswell Holt.

"Well, I don't care!" said Norton. "Let them both stand together then.
I hope there'll be something more remarkable than either of 'em."

"Juliet Bracebridge. A carriage and horses. Will drive all over the
world. Thinks she'll never know ennui."

"Juliet has it," said the Judge. "That's better than just riding or
dressing for its own sak