elinor wyllys-2-第22章

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he　Stanley　estate　to　another。　Hazlehurst　had　decided；　from　the　instant　the　claim　was　laid　before　him；　that　the　only　question　with　himself　would　regard　his　own　opinion　on　the　subject；　the　point　must　first　be　clearly　settled　to　his　own　judgment。　He　would　see　the　man　who　claimed　to　be　the　son　of　his　benefactor；　he　would　examine　the　matter　as　impartially　as　he　could；　and　then　determine　for　himself。　Had　he　any　good　reason　whatever　for　believing　this　individual　to　be　William　Stanley；　he　would　instantly　resign　the　property　to　him；　at　every　cost。

All　probability　was；　however；　thus　far；　against　the　identity　of　the　claimant；　and　unless　Hazlehurst　could　believe　in　his　good　faith　and　honesty；　every　inch　of　the　ground　should　be　disputed　to　the　best　of　his　ability。　Mr。　Wyllys　was　very　confident　of　defeating　one　whom　he　seriously　believed　an　impostor：　it　was　a　dirty；　disagreeable　job　to　undertake；　but　he　was　sanguine　as　to　the　result。　Mrs。　Stanley　was　at　first　quite　overcome　by　agitation　and　astonishment；　she　had　some　doubts　and　anxieties；　misgivings　would　occasionally　cross　her　mind；　in　spite　of　herself；　in　spite　of　Mr。　Wyllys's　opinion；　and　the　bare　idea　of　opposing　one　who　might　possibly　be　her　husband's　son；　affected　all　her　feelings。　Like　Hazlehurst；　she　was　very　desirous　to　examine　farther　into　the　matter；　without　delay；　scarcely　knowing　yet　what　to　hope　and　what　to　fear。

Ellsworth　and　Mrs。　Creighton　soon　learned　the　extraordinary　summons　which　Harry　had　received；　he　informed　them　of　the　facts　himself。

〃The　man　is　an　impostor；　depend　upon　it；　Mr。　Hazlehurst！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Creighton；　with　much　warmth。

〃I　have　little　doubt　of　it；〃　replied　Harry；　〃for　I　do　not　see　how　he　can　well　be　anything　else。〃

〃You　know；　Hazlehurst；　that　I　am　entirely　at　your　service　in　any　way　you　please；〃　said　Ellsworth。

〃Thank　you；　Ellsworth；　I　have　a　habit　of　looking　to　you　in　any　difficulty；　as　you　know　already。〃

〃But　I　cannot　conceive　that　it　should　be　at　all　a　difficult　matter　to　unravel　so　coarse　a　plot　as　this　must　be！〃　cried　Mrs。　Creighton。　〃What　possible　foundation　can　these　men　have　for　their　story？　Tell　me　all　about　it；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　pray！〃　continued　the　lady；　who　had　been　standing　when　Harry　entered　the　room；　prepared　to　accompany　her　brother　and　himself　to　Miss　Wyllys's　room。　〃Sit　down；　I　beg；　and　tell　me　at　once　all　you　choose　to　trust　me　with；〃　she　continued；　taking　a　seat　on　the　sofa。

Harry　followed　her　example。　〃You　are　only　likely　to　hear　a　great　deal　too　much　of　it　I　fear；　if　you　permit　Ellsworth　and　myself　to　talk　the　matter　over　before　you。〃　He　then　proceeded　to　give　some　of　the　most　important　facts；　as　far　as　he　knew　them　himself；　at　least。　Judging　from　this　account；　Mr。　Ellsworth　pronounced　himself　decidedly　inclined　to　think　with　Mr。　Wyllys；　that　this　claim　was　a　fabrication　of　Clapp's。　Mrs。　Creighton　was　very　warm　in　the　expression　of　her　indignation　and　her　sympathy。　After　a　long　and　animated　conversation；　Mr。　Ellsworth　proposed　that　they　should　join　the　Wyllyses：　his　sister　professed　herself　quite　ready　to　do　so；　and；　accompanied　by　Harry；　they　went　to　the　usual　rendezvous　of　their　party；　at　Congress　Hall。

Robert　Hazlehurst　had　already　left　Saratoga　with　his　family；　having　returned　from　Lake　George　for　that　purpose；　a　day　earlier　than　his　friends；　and　when　Mrs。　Creighton　and　the　two　gentlemen　entered　Miss　Wyllys's　parlour；　they　only　found　there　the　Wyllyses　themselves　and　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　all　of　whom　had　already　heard　of　Harry's　threatened　difficulties。　Neither　Miss　Agnes　nor　Elinor　had　seen　him　since　he　had　received　the　letters；　and　they　both　cordially　expressed　their　good　wishes　in　his　behalf；　for　they　both　seemed　inclined　to　Mr。　Wyllys's　opinion　of　the　new　claimant。

〃We　have　every　reason　to　wish　that　the　truth　may　soon　be　discovered；〃　said　Miss　Agnes。

〃I　am　sorry　you　should　have　such　a　painful；　vexatious　task　before　you；〃　said　Elinor；　frankly　offering　her　hand　to　Harry。

〃Have　you　no　sympathies　for　this　new　sailor　cousin　of　yours；　Miss　Wyllys？I　must　say　I　have　a　very　poor　opinion　of　him　myself；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。

〃Whoever　he　be；　I　hope　he　will　only　receive　what　is　justly　his　due；〃　replied　Elinor。

〃I　am　happy；　Miss　Wyllys；　that　you　seem　favourably　inclined　towards　Hazlehurst；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth。　〃On　the　present　occasion　I　consider　him　not　only　as　a　friend　but　as　a　client；　and　that　is　the　dearest　tie　we　lawyers　are　supposed　to　feel。〃

〃One　would　naturally　incline　rather　more　to　a　client　of　yours　ex　officio；　Mr。　Ellsworth；　than　to　one　of　Mr。　Clapp's；　that　very　disagreeable　brother…in…law　of　Miss　Patsey　Hubbard's；〃　said　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　smiling。

It　was　soon　decided　that　the　party　should　break　up　the　next　day。　The　Wyllyses；　with　Mrs。　Stanley　and　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　were　to　return　to　Longbridge。　Mrs。　Creighton　and　Mr。　Ellsworth　were　obliged　to　pay　their　long　deferred　visit　to　Nahant；　the　gentleman　having　some　business　of　importance　in　the　neighbourhood；　but　it　was　expected　that　they　also　should　join　the　family　at　Wyllys…Roof　as　early　as　possible。　Jane　was　to　return　to　New　York　with　her　sister…in…law；　Mrs。　St。　Leger；　leaving　Miss　Emma　Taylor　flirting　at　Saratoga；　under　the　charge　of　a　fashionable　chaperon；　while　Mr。　Hopkins　was　still　fishing　at　Lake　George。



CHAPTER　XI。　｛XXXIV｝

〃'Whence　this　delay？Along　the　crowded　street　A　funeral　comes；　and　with　unusual　pomp。'〃　ROGERS。

｛Samuel　Rogers　（English　poet；　1763…1855）；　〃Italy：　A　Funeral〃　lines　1…2｝

IT　is　a　common　remark；　that　important　events　seldom　occur　singly；　and　they　seem　indeed　often　to　follow　each　other　with　startling　rapidity；　like　the　sharpest　flashes　of　lightning　and　the　loudest　peals　of　thunder　from　the　dark　clouds　of　a　summer　shower。　On　arriving　in　New　York；　the　Wyllyses　found　that　Tallman　Taylor　had　been　taken　suddenly　and　dangerously　ill；　during　the　previous　night；　the　consequence　of　a　stroke　of　the　sun；　having　exposed　himself　imprudently；　by　crossing　the　bay　to　Staten…Island　for　a　dinner　party；　in　an　open　boat；　when　the　thermometer　stood　at　95　｛degrees｝　in　the　shade。　He　was　believed　in　imminent　danger；　and　was　too　ill　to　recognize　his　wife　when　she　arrived。　Miss　Wyllys　and　Elinor　remained　in　town；　at　the　urgent　request　of　Jane；　who　was　in　great　distress；　while　Mr。　Wyllys　returned　home　with　Mrs。　Stanley　and　Mary　Van　Alstyne。

｛Susan's　father；　James　Fenimore　Cooper；　twice　suffered　from　sunstroke；　in　1823　and　1825；　while　sailing　a　small　boat　near　New　York　City；　and　she　later　wrote　of　the　attacks　of　delirium　that　followed｝

After　twenty…four　hours　of　high　delirium；　the　physicians　succeeded　in　subduing　the　worst　symptoms；　but　the　attack　took　the　character　of　a　bilious　fever；　and　the　patient's　recovery　was　thought　very　doubtful　from　the　first。　Poor　Jane　sat　listlessly　in　the　sick…room；　looking　on　and　weeping；　unheeded　by　her　husband；　who　would　allow　no　one　but　his　mother　to　come　near　him；　not　even　his　wife　or　his　sisters；　he　would　not；　indeed；　permit　his　mother　to　leave　his　sight　for　a　moment；　his　eyes　following　every　movement　of　her's　with　the　feverish　restlessness　of　disease；　and　the　helpless　dependence　of　a　child。　Jane　mourned　and　wept；　Adeline　had　at　least　the　merit　of　activity；　and　made　herself　useful　as　an　assistant　nurse；　in　preparing　whatever　was　needed　by　her　brother。　These　two　young　women；　who　had　been　so　often　together　in　brilliant　scenes　of　gaiety；　were　now；　for　the　first　time；　united　under　a　roof　of　sorrow　and　suffering。

〃That　lovely　young　creature　is　a　perfect　picture　of　helpless　grief！〃　thought　one　of　the　physicians；　as　he　looked　at　Jane。

For　a　week；　Tallman　Taylor　continued　in　the　same　state。　Occasionally；　as　he　talked　with　the　wild　incoherency　of　delirium；　he　uttered　sentences　painful　to　hear；　as　they　recalled　deeds　of　folly　and　vice；　words　passed　his　lips　which　were　distressing　to　all　present；　but　which　sunk　deep　into　the　heart　of　the　sick　man's　mother。　At　length　he　fell　into　a　stupor；　and　after　lingering　for　a　day　or　two　in　that　state；　he　expired；　without　having　fully　recovered　his　consciousness　for　a　moment。　The　handsome；　reckless；　dashing　son　of　the　rich　merchant　lay　on　his　bier；　a　career　of　selfish　enjoyment　and　guilty　folly　was　suddenly　closed　by　the　grave。

Miss　Agnes's　heart　sunk　within　her　as　she　stood；　silent；　beside　the　coffin　of　Jane's　husband；　remembering　how　lately　she　had　seen　the　young　man；　full　of　life　and　vigour；　thoughtlessly　devoting　the　best　energies　of　body　and　soul　to　culpable　self…indulgence。　It　is　melancholy　indeed；　to　record　such　a　close　to　such　a　life；　and　yet　it　is　an　event　repeated　in　the　gay　world　with　every　year　that　passes。　It　is　to　be　feared　there　were　companions　of　Tallman　Taylor's；　pursuing　the　same　course　of　wicked　folly；　which　had　been　so　suddenly　interrupted　before　their　eyes；　who　yet　never　gave　one　serious　thought　to　the　subject：　if　they　paused；　it　was　only　for　a　moment；　while　they　followed　their　friend　to　the　grave；　from　thence　hurrying　again　to　the　same　ungrateful；　reckless　abuse　of　life；　and　its　highest　blessings。

Jane　was　doubly　afflicted　at　this　moment；　her　baby　sickened　soon　after　its　return　to　town；　and　died　only　a　few　days　after　her　husband；　the　young　father　and　his　infant　boy　were　laid　in　the　same　grave。

Jane　herself　was　ill　for　a　time；　and　when　she　partially　recovered；　was　very　anxious　to　accompany　Miss　Agnes　and　Elinor　to　Wyllys…Roofa　spot　where　she　had　passed　so　many　peaceful　hours；　that　she　longed　again　to　seek　shelter　there。　She　had　loved　her　husband；　as　far　as　it　was　in　her　nature　to　love；　but　her　attachments　were　never　very　strong　or　very　tender；　and　Tallman　Taylor's　neglect　and　unkindness　during　the　past　year；　had　in　some　measure　chilled　her　first　feelings　for　him。　She　now；　however；　looked　upon　herself　as　the　most　afflicted　of　human　beings；　the　death　of　her　baby　had　indeed　touched　the　keenest　chord　in　her　bosomshe　wept　over　it　bitterly。

Adeline　thought　more　seriously　at　the　time　of　her　brother's　death　than　she　had　ever　done　before：　and　even　Emma　Taylor's　spirits　were　sobered　for　a　moment。　Mr。　Taylor；　the　father；　no　doubt　felt　the　loss　of　his　eldest　son；　though　far　less　than　many　parents　would　have　done；　he　was　not　so　much　overwhelmed　by　grief；　but　what　he　could　order　a　very　handsome　funeral；　and　project　an　expensive　marble　monumenta　FASHIONABLE　TOMB…STONE　of　Italian　marble。　He　was　soon　able　to　resume　all　his　usual　pursuits；　and　even　the　tenor　of　his　thoughts　seemed　little　changed；　for　his　mind　was　as　much　occupied　as　usual　with　Wall…Street　affairs；　carrying　out　old　plans；　or　laying　new　schemes　of　profit。　He　had　now　been　a　rich　man　for　several　years；　yet　he　was　in　fact　less　happy　than　when　he　began　his　career；　and　had　everything　to　look　forward　to。　Still　he　continued　the　pursuits　of　business；　for　without　the　exciting　fears　and　hopes　of　loss　and　gain；　life　would　have　appeared　a　monotonous　scene　to　him；　leisure　could　only　prove　a　burthen；　for　it　would　be　merely　idleness；　since　he　had　no　tastes　to　make　it　either　pleasant　or　useful。　His　schemes　of　late　had　not　been　so　brilliantly　successful　as　at　the　commencement　of　his　course　of　speculation；　fortune　seemed　coquetting　with　her　old　favourite；　he　had　recently　made　several　investments　which　had　proved　but　indifferent　in　their　results。　Not　that　he　had　met　with　serious　losses；　on　the　contrary；　he　was　still　a　g