elinor wyllys-2-第23章

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fferent　in　their　results。　Not　that　he　had　met　with　serious　losses；　on　the　contrary；　he　was　still　a　gainer　at　the　game　of　speculation；　but　the　amount　was　very　trifling。　He　had　rapidly　advanced　to　a　certain　distance　on　the　road　to　wealth；　but　it　now　seemed　as　if　he　could　not　pass　that　point；　the　brilliant　dreams　in　which　he　had　indulged　were　only　half　realized。　There　seemed　no　good　way　of　accounting　for　this　pause　in　his　career；　but　such　was　the　fact；　he　was　just　as　shrewd　and　calculating；　just　as　enterprising　now　as　he　had　been　ten　years　before；　but　certainly　he　was　not　so　successful。

On　commencing　an　examination　of　his　son's　affairs；　he　found　that　Tallman　Taylor's　extravagance　and　folly　had　left　his　widow　and　child　worse　than　penniless；　for　he　had　died　heavily　in　debt。　Returning　one　afternoon　from　Wall…Street；　Mr。　Taylor　talked　over　this　matter　with　his　wife。　Of　all　Tallman　Taylor's　surviving　friends；　his　mother　was　the　one　who　most　deeply　felt　his　death；　she　was　heart…stricken；　and　shed　bitter　tears　over　the　young　man。

〃There　is　nothing　left；　Hester；　for　the　child　or　her　mother；〃　said　the　merchant；　sitting　down　in　a　rocking…chair　in　his　wife's　room。　〃All　gone；　all　wasted；　five　times　the　capital　I　had　to　begin　with。　I　have　just　made　an　investment；　of　which　I　shall　give　the　profits　to　Tallman's　lady；　four　lots　that　were　offered　to　me　last　week；　if　that　turns　out　well；　I　shall　go　on；　and　it　may　perhaps　make　up　a　pretty　property　for　the　child；　in　time。〃

〃Oh；　husband；　don't　talk　to　me　about　such　things　now；　I　can't　think　of　anything　but　my　poor　boy's　death！〃

〃It　was　an　unexpected　calamity；　Hester；〃　said　the　father；　with　one　natural　look　of　sorrow；　〃but　we　cannot　always　escape　trouble　in　this　world。〃

〃I　feel　as　if　we　had　not　done　our　duty　by　him！〃　said　the　poor　mother。

〃Why　not？…he　was　very　handsomely　set　up　in　business；〃　remonstrated　Mt。　Taylor。

〃I　was　not　thinking　of　money；〃　replied　his　wife；　shaking　her　head。　〃But　it　seems　as　if　we　only　took　him　away　from　my　brother's；　in　the　country；　just　to　throw　him　in　the　way　of　temptation　as　he　was　growing　up；　and　let　him　run　wild；　and　do　everything　he　took　a　fancy　to。〃

〃We　did　no　more　than　other　parents；　in　taking　him　home　with　us；　to　give　him　a　better　education　than　he　could　have　got　at　your　brother's。〃

〃Husband；　husband！it　is　but　a　poor　education　that　don't　teach　a　child　to　do　what　is　right！　I　feel　as　if　we　had　never　taught　him　what　we　ought　to。　I　did　not　know　he　had　got　so　many　bad　ways　until　lately；　and　now　that　I　do　know　it；　my　heart　is　broken！〃

〃Tallman　was　not　so　bad　as　you　make　him　out。　He　was　no　worse　than　a　dozen　other　young　gentlemen　I　could　name　at　this　very　minute。〃

〃Oh；　I　would　give　everything　we　are　worth　to　bring　him　back！but　it　is　too　latetoo　late！〃

〃No　use　in　talking　now；　Hester。〃

〃We　ought　to　have　taken　more　pains　with　him。　He　didn't　know　the　danger　he　was　in；　and　we　did；　or　we　ought　to　have　known　it。　Taking　a　young　man　of　a　sudden；　from　a　quiet；　minister's　family　in　the　country；　like　my　brother's；　and　giving　him　all　the　money　he　wanted；　and　turning　him　out　into　temptation。Oh；　it's　dreadful！〃

〃All　the　pains　in　the　world；　Hester；　won't　help　a　young　man；　unless　he　chooses　himself。　What　could　I　do；　or　you　either？　Didn't　we　send　him　to　school　and　to　college？didn't　we　give　him　an　opportunity　of　beginning　life　with　a　fine　property；　and　married　to　one　of　the　handsomest　girls　in　the　country；　daughter　of　one　of　the　best　families；　too？　What　more　can　you　do　for　a　young　man？　He　must　do　the　rest　himself；　you　can't　expect　to　keep　him　tied　to　your　apron…string　all　his　life。〃

〃Oh；　no；　but　husband；　while　he　was　young　we　ought　to　have　taken　more　pains　to　teach　him　not　to　think　so　much　about　the　ways　of　the　world。　There　are　other　things　besides　getting　money　and　spending　money；　to　do；　it　seems　to　me　now　as　if　money　had　only　helped　my　poor　boy　to　his　ruin！〃

〃Your　notions　are　too　gloomy；　Mrs。　Taylor。　Such　calamities　will　happen；　and　we　should　not　let　them　weigh　us　down　too　much。〃

〃If　I　was　to　live　a　hundred　years　longer；　I　never　could　feel　as　I　did　before　our　son's　death。　Oh；　to　think　what　a　beautiful；　innocent　child　he　was　twenty　years　ago；　this　time！〃

〃You　shouldn't　let　your　mind　run　so　much　on　him　that's　gone。　It's　unjust　to　the　living。〃

The　poor　woman　made　no　answer；　but　wept　bitterly　for　some　time。

〃It's　my　only　comfort　now；〃　she　said；　at　length；　〃to　think　that　we　have　learned　wisdom　by　what's　passed。　As　long　as　I　live；　day　and　night；　I　shall　labour　to　teach　our　younger　children　not　to　set　their　hearts　upon　the　world；　not　to　think　so　much　about　riches。〃

〃Well；　I　must　say；　Hester；　if　you　think　all　poor　people　are　saints；　I　calculate　you　make　a　mistake。〃

〃I　don't　say　that；　husband；　but　it　seems　to　me　that　we　have　never　yet　thought　enough　of　the　temptations　of　riches；　more　especially　to　young　people；　to　young　menabove　all；　when　it　comes　so　sudden　as　it　did　to　our　poor　boy。　What　good　did　money　ever　do　him？it　only　brought　him　into　trouble！〃

〃Because　Tallman　didn't　make　the　most　of　his　opportunities；　that　is　no　reason　why　another　should　not。　If　I　had　wasted　money　as　he　did；　before　I　could　afford　it；　I　never　should　have　made　a　fortune　either。　The　other　boys　will　do　better；　I　reckon；　they　will　look　more　to　business　than　he　did；　and　turn　out　rich　men　themselves。〃

〃It　isn't　the　money！it　isn't　the　money　I　am　thinking　of！〃　exclaimed　the　poor　mother；　almost　in　despair　at　her　husband's　blindness　to　her　feelings。

〃What　is　it　then　you　take　so　much　to　heart？〃

〃It's　remembering　that　we　never　warned　our　poor　child；　we　put　him　in　the　way　of　temptation；　where　he　only　learned　to　think　everything　of　the　world　and　its　ways；　we　didn't　take　pains　enough　to　do　our　duty；　as　parents；　by　him！〃

〃Well；　Hester；　I　must　say　you　are　a　very　unreasonable　lady！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Taylor；　who　was　getting　impatient　under　his　wife's　observations。　〃One　would　think　it　was　all　my　fault；　do　you　mean　to　say　it　was　wrong　in　me　to　grow　rich？〃

〃I　am　afraid　it　would　have　been　better　for　us；　and　for　our　children；　if　you　hadn't　made　so　much　money；〃　replied　the　wife。　〃The　happiest　time　of　our　life　was　the　first　ten　years　after　we　were　married；　when　we　had　enough　to　be　comfortable；　and　we　didn't　care　so　much　about　show。　I　am　sure　money　hasn't　made　me　happy；　I　don't　believe　it　can　make　anybody　happy！〃

Mr。　Taylor　listened　in　amazement；　but　his　straightforward；　quiet　wife；　had　been　for　several　years　gradually　coming　to　the　opinion　she　had　just　expressed；　and　the　death　of　her　eldest　son　had　affected　her　deeply。　The　merchant；　finding　that　he　was　not　very　good　at　consolation；　soon　changed　the　conversation；　giving　up　the　hope　of　lessening　the　mother's　grief；　or　of　bringing　her　to　what　he　considered　more　rational　views　of　the　all…importance　of　wealth。

As　soon　as　Jane　felt　equal　to　the　exertion；　she　accompanied　Miss　Agnes　and　Elinor　to　Wyllys…Roof。　During　the　three　years　of　her　married　life　she　had　never　been　there；　having　passed　most　of　the　time　either　at　Charleston　or　New　Orleans。　Many　changes　had　occurred　in　that　short　period；　changes　of　outward　circumstances；　and　of　secret　feeling。　Her　last　visit　to　Wyllys…Roof　had　taken　place　just　after　her　return　from　France；　when　she　was　tacitly　engaged　to　young　Taylor；　at　a　moment　when　she　had　been　more　gay；　more　brilliantly　handsome　than　at　any　other　period　of　her　life。　Now；　she　returned　there；　a　weeping；　mourning　widow；　wretchedly　depressed　in　spirits；　and　feeble　in　health。　She　was　still　very　lovely；　however；　the　elevated　style　of　her　beauty　was　such；　that　it　appeared　finer　under　the　shadow　of　grief；　than　in　the　sunshine　of　gaiety；　and　it　is　only　beauty　of　the　very　highest　order　which　will　bear　this　test。　Her　deep　mourning　dress　was　in　harmony　with　her　whole　appearance　and　expression；　and　it　was　not　possible　to　see　her　at　this　moment；　without　being　struck　by　her　exceeding　loveliness。　Jane　was　only　seen　by　the　family；　however；　and　one　or　two　very　intimate　friends；　she　remained　entirely　in　the　privacy　of　her　own　room；　where　Elinor　was　generally　at　her　side；　endeavouring　to　soothe　her　cousin's　grief；　by　the　gentle　balm　of　sympathy　and　affection。



CHAPTER　XII。　｛XXXV｝

〃Do　thou　stand　for　my　father；　and　examine　me　upon　the　particulars　of　my　life。〃

〃What　manner　of　man；　an't　please　your　majesty！〃　Henry　IV。

｛William　Shakespeare；　〃1　Henry　IV〃；　II。iv。375…376；　420…421｝

HAZLEHURST's　affairs　had　not　remained　stationary；　in　the　mean　time；　Mrs。　Stanley　and　himself　were　already　at　Wyllys…Roof；　when　Miss　Wyllys　and　Elinor　returned　home；　accompanied　by　the　widowed　Jane。　The　ladies　had　received　frequent　intelligence　of　the　progress　of　his　affairs；　from　Mr。　Wyllys's　letters；　still　there　were　many　details　to　be　explained　when　the　party　was　re…united；　as　several　important　steps　had　been　taken　while　they　were　in　New　York。　Mr。　Clapp　was　no　longer　the　only　counsel　employed　by　the　claimant；　associated　with　the　Longbridge　attorney；　now　appeared　the　name　of　Mr。　Reed；　a　lawyer　of　highly　respectable　standing　in　New　York；　a　brother…in…law　of　Judge　Bernard's；　and　a　man　of　a　character　far　superior　to　that　of　Mr。　Clapp。　He　was　slightly　acquainted　with　Mr。　Wyllys；　and　had　written　very　civil　letters；　stating　that　he　held　the　proofs　advanced　by　his　client；　to　be　quite　decisive　as　to　his　identity；　and　he　proposed　an　amicable　meeting；　with　the　hope　that　Mr。　Stanley's　claim　might　be　acknowledged　without　farther　difficulty。　That　Mr。　Reed　should　have　taken　the　case　into　his　hands；　astonished　Hazlehurst　and　his　friends；　so　long　as　Clapp　managed　the　affair；　they　felt　little　doubt　as　to　its　beings　a　coarse　plot　of　his　own；　but　they　had　now　become　impatient　to　inquire　more　closely　into　the　matter。　Mrs。　Stanley　was　growing　very　uneasy；　Hazlehurst　was　anxious　to　proceed　farther　as　soon　as　possible；　but　Mr。　Wyllys　was　still　nearly　as　sanguine　as　ever。　All　parties　seemed　to　desire　a　personal　interview；　Mr。　Reed　offered　to　accompany　his　client　to　Wyllys…Roof；　to　wait　on　Mrs。　Stanley；　and　a　day　had　been　appointed　for　the　meeting；　which　was　to　take　place　as　soon　as　Harry's　opponent；　who　had　been　absent　from　Longbridge；　should　return。　The　morning　fixed　for　the　interview；　happened　to　be　that　succeeding　the　arrival　of　the　ladies；　and　it　will　be　easily　imagined　that　every　member　of　the　family　looked　forward　to　the　moment　with　most　anxious　interest。　Perhaps　they　were　not　aware　themselves；　how　gradually　doubts　had　arisen　and　increased；　in　their　own　minds；　since　the　first　disclosure　made　by　Mr。　Clapp。

〃Harry　and　myself　have　both　seen　this　man　at　last；　Agnes；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys　to　his　daughter；　just　after　she　had　returned　home；　when　alone　with　Elinor　and　herself。　〃Where　do　you　suppose　Harry　saw　him　yesterday？　At　church；　with　Mr。　Reed。　And　this　morning　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　him；　standing　on　the　steps　of　Clapp's　office。〃

〃Indeed！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Wyllys；　who；　as　well　as　Elinor；　was　listening　eagerly。　How　did　he　look？what　kind　of　man　did　he　seem？〃

〃He　looked　like　a　sailor。　I　only　saw　him　for　a　moment；　however；　for　he　was　coming　out　of　the　office；　and　walked　down　the　street；　in　an　opposite　direction　from　me。　I　must　confess　that　his　face　had　something　of　a　Stanley　look。〃

〃Is　it　possible！〃

〃Yes；　so　far　as　I　could　see　him；　he　struck　me　as　looking　like　the　Stanleys；　but；　in　another