'I have been thinking a great deal about this case of Lady Mason's, and I have read all the papers, old and new, which Mr. Furnival has sent me. I cannot bring myself to suppose it possible that she can have been guilty of any fraud or deception.'
'I believe her to be free from all guilt in the matter—as I told you before. But then of course you will take that as a private opinion, not as one legally formed. I have never gone into the matter as you have done.'
'I confess that I do not like having dealings with Mr. Chaffanbrass and Mr. Aram.'
'Mr. Chaffanbrass and Mr. Aram may not be so bad as you, perhaps in ignorance, suppose them to be. Does it not occur to you that we should be very badly off without such men as Chaffanbrass and Aram?'
'So we should without chimney-sweepers and scavengers.'
'Graham, my dear fellow, judge not that you be not judged. I am older than you, and have seen more of these men. Believe me that as you grow older and also see more of them, your opinion will be more lenient,—and more just. Do not be angry with me for taking this liberty with you.'
'My dear judge, if you knew how I value it;—how I should value any mark of such kindness that you can show me! However I have decided that I will know something more of these gentlemen at once. If I have your approbation I will let Mr. Furnival know that I will undertake the case.'
The judge signified his approbation, and thus the first of those two matters was soon settled between them.
'And now for the pleasure,' said the judge.
'I don't know much about pleasure,' said Graham, fidgeting in his chair, rather uneasily. 'I'm afraid there is not much pleasure for either of us, or for anybody else, in what I'm going to say.'
'Then there is so much more reason for having it said quickly. Unpleasant things should always be got over without delay.'
'Nothing on earth can exceed Lady Staveley's kindness to me, and yours, and that of the whole family since my unfortunate accident.'
'Don't think of it. It has been nothing. We like you, but we should have done as much as that even if we had not.'
'And now I'm going to tell you that I have fallen in love with your daughter Madeline.' As the judge wished to have the tale told quickly, I think he had reason to be satisfied with the very succinct terms used by Felix Graham.
'Indeed!' said the judge.
'And that was the reason why I wished to go away at the earliest possible time—and still wish it.'
'You are right there, Mr. Graham. I must say you are right
