'Of course I shall ask her.'
'She will have five thousand pounds on her marriage, settled upon herself and her children,—and as much more when I die, settled in the same way. Now fill your glass.' And in his own easy way he turned the subject round and began to talk about the late congress at Birmingham.
Felix felt that it was not open to him at the present moment to say anything further about Madeline; and though he was disappointed at this,—for he would have wished to go on talking about her all the evening—perhaps it was better for him. The judge would have said nothing further to encourage him, and he would have gradually been taught to think that his chance with Madeline was little, and then less. 'He must have been a fool,' my readers will say, 'not to have known that Madeline was now his own.' Probably. But then modest-minded young men are fools.
At last he contrived to bring the conversation round from the Birmingham congress to the affairs of his new client; and indeed he contrived to do so in spite of the judge, who was not particularly anxious to speak on the subject. 'After all that we said and did at Birmingham, it is odd that I should so soon find myself joined with Mr. Furnival.'
'Not at all odd. Of course you must take up your profession as others have taken it up before you. Very many young men dream of a Themis fit for Utopia. You have slept somewhat longer than others, and your dreams have been more vivid.'
'And now I wake to find myself leagued with the Empson and Dudley of our latter-day law courts.'
'Fie, Graham, fie. Do not allow yourself to speak in that tone of men whom you know not to be zealous advocates, and whom you do not know to be dishonest opponents.'
'It is they and such as they that make so many in these days feel the need of some Utopia,—as it was in the old days of our history. But I beg their pardon for nicknaming them, and certainly ought not to have done so in your presence.'
'Well; if you repent yourself, and will be more charitable for the future, I will not tell of you.'
'I have never yet even seen Mr. Chaffanbrass in court,' said Felix, after a pause.
'The more shame for you, never to have gone to the court in which he practices. A barrister intending to succeed at the common law bar cannot have too wide an experience in such matters.'
'But then I fear that I am a barrister not intending to succeed.'
'I am very sorry to hear it,' said the judge. And then again the conversation flagged for a minute or two.
'Have you ever seen him at a country assize town before, judge?' asked Felix.
