This was the first and
only allusion to his family and prospective rank. On the other hand,
he had--through naive and boyish inquiries, which seemed to amuse his
entertainers--acquired, as he believed, a full knowledge of the history
and antecedents of the Bradley household. He knew how Bradley had
brought his young wife and her cousin to California and abandoned a
lucrative law practice in San Francisco to take possession of this
mountain mill and woodland, which he had acquired through some
professional service.
"Then you are a barrister really?" said Mainwaring, gravely.
Bradley laughed. "I'm afraid I've had more practice--though not as
lucrative a one--as surgeon or doctor."
"But you're regularly on the rolls, you know; you're entered as
Counsel, and all that sort of thing?" continued Mainwaring, with great
seriousness.
"Well, yes," replied Bradley, much amused. "I'm afraid I must plead
guilty to that."
"It's not a bad sort of thing," said Mainwaring, naively, ignoring
Bradley's amusement. "I've got a cousin who's gone in for the law. Got
out of the army to do it--too. He's a sharp fellow."
"Then you DO allow a man to try many trades--over there," said Miss
Macy, demurely.
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