The court'll appoint a committee of three members of the bar, an'
they'll tell you when they want to see you for the circus--some evening
after court. They'll ask you where you've been readin' law, an' for
how long. If you tell 'em you've read in my office, it'll be all
right. I never knew 'em to fail to pass a student that had read with
me--it wouldn't be professional courtesy to me. You'll go through all
right, don't worry. You want to post up on a few such questions as,
'What is the law?' and 'What are the seven--or is it eight?--forms of
actions at law?' Then you want to be able to answer on 'What was the
rule in Shelley's Case?' There's sure to be some fool or other that'll
ask you that question, just to show off--I don't remember what the
d----d thing is myself--and you'll never hear of it again; but you get
fixed to answer them three questions, an' you can be admitted to the
bar all right anywhere in the State of Illinois, or leastways in this
county. Then it's customary for a fellow just admitted to the bar to
have a little jug around at his office before court adjourns--just to
comply with a professional custom, you know. No trouble about it--not
in the least. I'll see you through."

"I am clear in my own mind that I don't know much about the law," said
Franklin, "and I should not think of going up for examination if that
ended my studies in the profession. If I were intending to go into
practice here, sir, or near by, I should not think of applying for
admission for at least another year. But the fact is, I'm thinking of
going away."

"Goin' away?" Judge Bradley straightened up, and his expression if
anything was one of relief. He had had his own misgivings about this
grave-faced and mature young man should he go into the practice at the
Bloomsbury bar. It was well enough to encourage such possibilities to