It was a precipe for a writ.
"Alexander!" said Mrs. Tarbell, in an expressive voice, regardless of the office-boy.
"Yes?" said Mr. Juddson. The referee had refused to admit some of his testimony.
"Alexander, I have a client," said Mrs. Tarbell.
"Do you tell me so?" replied Mr. Juddson absently, as he redisarranged the papers upon his table. "I hope—Bless me, where is that—? Mrs. Tarbell, have you seen anything of an envelope?—John, what became of the papers in Muggins and Bylow? I gave them to you."
Mrs. Tarbell, deeply mortified, resumed her occupation, and completed the precipe by writing the words, "Tarbell, pro plff."
Mr. Juddson's papers were found for him, under his nose, and he was beginning to say that he was going out to lunch, when the enormity of his conduct made itself apparent to him.
"By George!" he said, stopping short, "you told me you had a client at last, eh, Mrs. Tarbell?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Tarbell coldly.
"Why,—bless my soul! It's your first client, is it not? And what kind of a case has your ewe-lamb brought you? Come, tell me about it. I did not properly appreciate the communication." And he went over to Mrs. Tarbell's desk, upon which he sat himself down in a position which Mrs. Tarbell had formerly considered very undignified; but now she could not help feeling that it was really a legal attitude.