human
Is this Mr. Turtle's office?
gpt
I should _ray_ther think it was,
human
I have a little business,
gpt
Most people _do_ have, said he.
human
I'm chuck full on't myself.
gpt
Suppose, said I,
human
Hold on, right there! exclaimed Ike, laying down his pipe.
gpt
Hold on, old _fel_low; this s'posin' don't do in this 'ere office. I never gives opinions on fancy cases. Time's little too precious. I want the raal facts on the matter, jest as they happened; and, besides, Mr. ----, fust thing I know I shall give an opinion right butt agin one of my clients--(I have reg'lar clients, you see, that I've got ter stand up for, if it busts me),--and this wheelin' round and taking a back track spiles one's reputation, and tears his conscience, awful to behold!
human
Well, I continued,
gpt
No, sir-ee! you _ain't_ goin' to say. _Who_ died? _who's_ the widow? Them are the startin' pints in a new country.
human
But, continued I,
gpt
Won't it, though? answered Ike.
human
What are principles to folks in a new country? What are residents to non-residents? Why, you take a resident widow, a little good-lookin', and she can hold all the land she claims agin a non-resident. Juries have feelin's, and are human like other people.
gpt
O, I see!
human
Jest so,
gpt
Well, then, I continued,
human
Has she any children?
gpt
She has.
human
Young?
gpt
Twelve and fourteen.
human
Bad age for you, said Ike;
gpt
But what have children to do with a principle of law?
human
exclaimed Ike;
gpt
Very likely, said I;
human
You see, continued Ike;
gpt
Mine's a case, said I, after Ike concluded his digression,
human
Puddleford against itself, both residents--a woman and two children against a man?
gpt
That's the case,
human
Well!
gpt
The widow claims a life interest, and yet she signed the deed with her husband.
human
inquired Ike again.
gpt
What is she growlin' about, then?
human
She claims she was deranged.
gpt
And didn't know nothin', ha?
human
And she says she can prove it.
gpt
That is, Sile Bates can for her, I s'pose.