“I am very grateful to you, Judge Merlin, for your kind interest in my welfare,” said Ishmael warmly.

“Not at all, my lad; for I owe you much, Ishmael.  You have been an invaluable assistant to me.  Doing a great deal more for me than the letter of your duty required.”

“I do not think so, sir; but I am very glad to have your approbation.”

“Thank you, boy; but now, Ishmael, to business.  You cannot do better than to take this brief.  It is the very neatest little case that ever a lawyer had; all the plain law on your side; a dash of the sentimental, too, in the injured father’s affection for the children that have been torn from him, the injured husband for the wife that repudiates him.  Now you are good at law, but you are great at sentiment, Ishmael, and between having law on your side and sentiment at your tongue’s end, you will be sure to succeed and come off with flying colors.  And such success in his first case is of the utmost importance to a young lawyer.  It is in fact the making of his fortune.  You will have a shower of briefs follow this success.”

“I do not know that I shall take the brief, sir,” said Ishmael thoughtfully.

“Not take the brief?  Are you mad?  Who ever heard of a young lawyer refusing to take such a brief as that?—­accompanied by such a retaining fee as that?—­the brief the neatest and safest little case that ever came before a court! the retaining fee a hundred dollars! and no doubt he will hand you double that sum when you get your decision—­for whatever his fortune has been in times past, he is rich now, this Walsh!” said the judge vehemently.

“Who is the counsel for the other side?” asked Ishmael.

“Ha, ha, ha! there’s where the shoe hurts, is it? there’s where the pony halts? that’s what’s the matter?  You are afraid of encountering some of the great guns of the law, are you?  Don’t be alarmed.  The schoolmistress is too poor to pay for distinguished legal talent.  She may get some briefless pettifogger to appear for her; a man set up for you to knock down.  Your case is just what the first case of a young lawyer should be—­plain sailing, law distinctly on your side, dash of sentiment, domestic affections, and all that, and certain success at the end.  Your victory will be as easy as it will be complete.”

“Poor thing!” murmured Ishmael; “too poor to employ talent for the defense of her possession of her own children!”

“Come, my lad; pocket your fee and take up your brief,” said the judge.

“I would rather not, sir; I do not like to appear against a woman—­a mother defending her right in her own children.  It appears to me to be cruel to wish to deprive her of them,” said the gentle-spirited young lawyer.

“Cruel; it is merciful rather.  No one wishes really to deprive her of them, but to give them to their father, that she may be drawn through her love for them to live with him.”