elinor wyllys-2-第25章

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　point　of　view。〃

〃Certainly；　I　am　glad　you　have　come　home；　on　her　accountshe　is　becoming　painfully　anxious。　It　is　a　very　serious　matter；　too；　for　Hazlehurst；　he　confessed　to　me　yesterday；　that　he　had　some　misgivings。〃

〃What　a　change　it　would　make　in　all　his　views　and　prospects　for　life！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Wyllys。

〃A　change；　indeed；　which　he　would　feel　at　every　turn。　But　we　are　not　yet　so　badly　off　as　that。　We　shall　give　this　individual　a　thorough；　searching　examination；　and　it　is　my　firm　opinion　that　he　will　not　bear　it。　In　the　mean　time　we　have　agents　at　work；　endeavouring　to　trace　this　man's　past　career；　and　very　possibly　we　may　soon　discover　in　that　way；　some　inconsistency　in　his　story。〃

〃The　interview　is　for　to…morrow；　you　say；〃　added　Miss　Agnes。

〃To…morrow　morning。　It　is　to　be　considered　as　a　visit　to　Mrs。　Stanley；　Mr。　Reed　and　Clapp　will　come　with　him。　He　has　engaged　to　bring　a　portion　of　his　papers；　and　to　answer　any　questions　of　ours；　that　would　not　injure　him　in　case　of　an　ultimate　trial　by　law：　after　the　interview；　we　are　to　declare　within　a　given　time　whether　we　acknowledge　the　claim；　or　whether　we　are　prepared　to　dispute　it。〃

〃If　you　do　carry　it　into　a　court　of　justice；　when　will　the　trial　take　place？〃　asked　Miss　Agnes。

〃Probably　in　the　autumn；　they　have　already　given　notice；　that　they　will　bring　it　on　as　soon　as　possible；　if　we　reject　their　demand。〃

〃Harry　will　not　go　abroad　then；　with　Mr。　Henley。〃

〃No；　not　so　soon　at　least　as　he　intended。　So　goes　the　world；　Hazlehurst's　career　suddenly　stopped；　by　an　obstacle　we　never　dreamed　of；　at　this　late　day。　That　poor　young　Taylor　in　his　grave；　too！　How　is　Jane？〃

〃Very　feeble；　and　much　depressed。〃

〃Poor　girla　heavy　blow　to　herthat　was　a　sweet　baby　that　she　lost。　I　am　glad　to　see　the　other　child　looks　well。　Jane's　affairs；　too；　are　in　a　bad　way；　they　tell　me。〃

Miss　Agnes　shook　her　head；　and　her　father　soon　after　left　her。

Hazlehurst　was；　of　course；　much　occupied；　having　many　things　to　attend　to；　connected　in　different　ways　with　the　important　question　under　consideration：　there　were　old　papers　to　be　examined；　letters　to　be　written；　letters　to　be　read；　and　the　family　seldom　saw　him；　except　at　his　meals。　It　was　evident；　however；　that　all　Mr。　Wyllys's　displeasure　against　him；　was　fast　disappearing　under　the　influence　of　the　strong　interest　now　aroused　in　his　favour。　Miss　Agnes　had　also　resumed　entirely；　her　former　manner　towards　him。　Elinor　was　quite　unembarrassed；　and　frankly　expressed　her　interest　in　his　affairs；　in　fact；　all　parties　appeared　so　much　engrossed　by　this　important　topic；　that　no　one　seemed　to　have　time　to　remember　the　unpleasant　circumstances　of　Harry's　last　visit　to　Wyllys…Roof。　To　judge　from　his　manner；　and　something　in　his　expression；　if　any　one　occasionally　thought　of　the　past；　it　was　Hazlehurst　himself；　he　seemed　grateful　for　his　present　kind　reception；　and　conscious　that　he　had　forfeited　all　claim　to　the　friendly　place　in　which　he　had　been　reinstated。　Once　or　twice；　he　betrayed　momentary　feeling　and　embarrassment；　as　some　allusion　to　past　scenes　was　accidentally　made　by　others；　in　the　course　of　conversation。

The　family　were　sitting　together　after　tea；　enjoying　the　summer　evening　twilight；　after　a　long　business　consultation　between　the　gentlemen。　Harry　seemed　still　engrossed　by　his　own　meditations；　what　was　their　particular　nature　at　that　moment；　we　cannot　say；　but　he　certainly　had　enough　to　think　of　in　various　ways。　Harry's　friends　left　him　in　undivided　possession　of　the　corner；　where　he　was　sitting；　alone；　and　Mr。　Wyllys；　after　a　quiet；　general　conversation　with　the　ladies；　asked　Elinor　for　a　song。　At　her　grandfather's　request；　she　sang　a　pleasing；　new　air；　she　had　just　received；　and　his　old　favourite；　Robin　Adair。　Fortunately；　it　did　not　occur　to　her；　that　the　last　time　she　had　sung　that　song　at　Wyllys…Roof；　with　Hazlehurst　as　part　of　her　audience；　was　the　evening　before　their　rupture；　she　appeared　to　have　forgotten　the　fact；　for　no　nervous　feeling　affected　her　voice；　though　her　tones　were　lower　than　usual；　as　she　did　not　wish　to　disturb　Jane；　who　was　in　a　distant　part　of　the　house。　A　letter　from　Mr。　Reed　was　brought　in；　and　drew　Harry　into　the　circle　again；　it　was　connected　with　the　next　day's　interview；　and　after　reading　it；　Mr。　Wyllys　made　some　remarks　upon　the　difference　in　the　tone　and　manner　of　the　communications　they　had　received　from　Clapp；　and　from　Mr。　Reed；　the　last　writing　like　a　gentleman；　the　first　like　a　pettifogger。

〃I　am　glad；　at　least；　that　you　will　have　a　gentleman　to　deal　with；〃　observed　Elinor。

〃Why；　yes；　Nelly；　it　is　always　advisable　to　secure　a　gentleman　for　friend　or　foe；　he　is　the　best　substitute　for　a　good　man　that　one　can　find。　But　it　is　my　opinion　that　Mr。　Reed　will　not　persevere　in　this　case；　I　think　he　will　soon　be　disgusted　with　Clapp；　as　his　brother　counsel。　To…morrow；　however；　we　shall　have　a　nearer　look　at　all　our　opponents；　and　I　trust　that　we　shall　be　able　to　make　up　our　own　minds　at　least；　beyond　a　doubt。〃

〃I　trust　so！〃　replied　Mrs。　Stanley；　whose　anxiety　had　increased　painfully。

〃I　wish　Ellsworth　were　here！〃　exclaimed　Harry；　〃as　his　feelings　are　less　interested　than　those　of　either　of　us；　he　would　see　things　in　a　more　impartial　light。〃

〃I　wish　he　were　here；　with　all　my　heart；〃　replied　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃I　am　a　little　afraid　of　both　you；　my　excellent　friend；　and　you；　Hazlehurst；　the　idea　of　not　doing　justice　to　the　shadow　of　William　Stanley；　will　make　you　too　merciful　towards　this　claimant；　I　fear。　I　see　plainly；　Harry；　that　you　have　some　scruples；　and　I　caution　you　against　giving　way　too　much　to　them。〃

Hazlehurst　smiled；　and　passed　his　hand　over　his　forehead。　〃Thank　you；　sir；　for　your　advice；〃　he　replied。　〃I　shall　try　to　judge　the　facts　calmly；　although　the　idea；　that　one　may　possibly　be　an　usurper；　is　by　no　means　pleasant；　it　is　rather　worse　even；　than　that　of　giving　up　to　an　impostor。〃

〃It　is　a　thousand　pities　that　Ellsworth　cannot　be　here　until　next　week；　he　would　have　warned　you；　as　I　do；　not　to　lose　sight　of　the　impostor。〃

〃It　is　quite　impossible　that　he　should　come；　until　next　Monday；　I　knew　his　business　would　not　admit　of　it；　when　I　wrote　to　him　at　your　request；　but　he　will　be　here　at　the　very　earliest　moment　that　he　can。〃

In　fact　every　one　present；　while　they　regretted　Mr。　Ellsworth's　absence；　felt　thoroughly　convinced　that　there　were　various　reasons；　which　gave　him　the　best　inclination　in　the　world　to　be　at　Wyllys…Roof　as　soon　as　possible。

〃I　hope　Mrs。　Creighton　will　come　with　him　too；　she　will　enliven　us　a　little；　in　the　midst　of　our　legal　matters；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃Ellsworth　mentions　Mrs。　Creighton's　coming　particularly；　she　sends　a　message　to　the　ladies；　through　him；　which　I　have　already　delivered；〃　replied　Hazlehurst；　as　he　took　up　Mr。　Reed's　letter；　to　answer　it。

〃Well；　Agnes；　shall　we　have　a　game　of　chess？〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys；　and　the　circle　was　broken　up；　as　the　younger　ladies　joined　Mrs。　Taylor　in　her　own　room。

The　hour　of　ten；　on　the　following　morning；　had　been　fixed　for　the　interview　with　the　sailor　and　his　counsel。　Hazlehurst　was　walking　on　the　piazza；　as　the　time　approached；　and　punctual　to　the　moment；　he　saw　a　carriage　drive　up　to　the　house；　in　it　were　Mr。　Reed；　Mr。　Clapp；　and　their　client。　Harry　stopped　to　receive　them；　and；　as　they　mounted　the　steps　one　after　the　other；　he　bowed　respectfully　to　Mr。　Reed；　slightly　to　Mr。　Clapp；　and　fixed　his　eye　steadily　on　the　third　individual。

〃Mr。　Stanley；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；〃　said　Mr。　Reed；　in　a　quiet；　but　decided　manner。

Harry　bowed　like　a　gentleman；　Mr。　Stanley　like　a　jack…tar。　The　first　steady；　inquiring　glance　of　Hazlehurst；　was　sufficient　to　show　him；　that　the　rival　claimant　was　a　man　rather　shorter；　and　decidedly　stouter　than　himself；　with　dark　hair　and　eyes；　and　a　countenance　by　no　means　unpleasant；　excepting　that　it　bore　evident　traces　of　past　habits　of　intemperance；　as　far　as　his　features　went；　they　certainly　reminded　Harry　of　Mr。　Stanley's　portrait。　The　sailor's　dress　was　that　which　might　have　been　worn　by　a　mate；　or　skipper；　on　shore；　he　appeared　not　in　the　least　daunted；　on　the　contrary　he　was　quite　self…possessed；　with　an　air　of　determination　about　him　which　rather　took　Harry　by　surprise。

A　few　indifferent　observations　were　exchanged　between　Mr。　Reed　and　Hazlehurst；　as　the　party　entered　the　house；　they　were　taken　by　Harry　into　the　drawing…room；　and　he　then　left　them；　to　inform　Mrs。　Stanley　and　Mr。　Wyllys　of　their　arrival。

Mrs。　Stanley；　though　a　woman　of　a　firm　character；　was　very　excitable　in　her　temperament；　and　she　dreaded　the　interview　not　a　little；　she　had　asked　Miss　Wyllys　to　remain　with　her　on　the　occasion。　Mr。　Wyllys　was　sent　for；　and　when　he　had　joined　the　ladies；　and　Mrs。　Stanley　had　composed　herself；　their　three　visitors　were　ushered　into　Miss　Wyllys's　usual　sitting…room　by　Hazlehurst。　He　introduced　Mr。　Reed　to　Mrs。　Stanley　and　Miss　Wyllys；　named　Mr。　Clapp；　and　added；　as　the　sailor　approached：　〃Mr。　Reed's　client；　ma'am。〃

〃Mr。　William　Stanley；〃　added　Mr。　Reed；　firmly；　but　respectfully。

Mrs。　Stanley　had　risen　from　her　seat；　and　after　curtseying　to　the　lawyers；　she　turned　very　pale；　as　the　name　of　her　husband's　son　was　so　deliberately　applied；　by　a　respectable　man；　to　the　individual　before　her。

〃I　was　just　asking　Mr。　Stanley；　when　Mr。　Hazlehurst　joined　us；〃　observed　the　forward　Mr。　Clapp；　〃if　he　remembered　Wyllys…Roof　at　all；　but　he　says　his　recollections　of　this　place　are　rather　confused。〃

〃When　were　you　here　last；　sir？〃　asked　Mr。　Wyllys　of　the　sailor；　giving　him　a　searching　look　at　the　same　time。

〃About　five　years　ago；〃　was　the　cool　reply；　rather　to　Mr。　Wyllys's　surprise。

〃Five　years　ago！I　have　no　recollection　of　the　occasion。〃

The　rest　of　the　party　were　looking　and　listening；　with　curious；　anxious　interest。

〃You　don't　seem　to　have　much　recollection　of　me；　at　all；　sir；〃　said　the　sailor；　rather　bitterly。

〃Do　you　mean　to　say；　that　you　were　in　this　house　five　years　ago？〃　asked　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃I　was　here；　but　I　didn't　say　I　was　in　the　house。〃

〃What　brought　you　here？〃

〃Pretty　much　the　same　errand　that　brings　me　now。〃

〃What　passed　on　the　occasion？〃

〃I　can't　say　I　remember　much　about　it；　excepting　that　you　did　not　give　me　an　over…friendly　greeting。〃

〃Explain　how　it　happened；　Mr。　Stanley；〃　said　Mr。　Reed；　〃Mr。　Wyllys　does　not　understand　you。〃

〃I　certainly　cannot　understand　what　you　mean　me　to　believe。　You　say　you　were　here；　and　did　not　receive　a　very　friendly　greetinghow　was　it　unfriendly？〃

〃Why；　you　showed　me　the　inside　of　your　smoke…house；　which；　to　my　notion；　wasn't　just　the　right　berth　for　the　son　of　your　old　friend；　and　I　took　the　liberty　of　kicking　off　the　hatches　next　morning；　and　making　the　best　of　my　way　out　of　the　neighbourhood。〃

〃You　remember　the　drunken　sailor；　sir；　who　was　found　one　night；　several　years　since；　near　the　house；〃　interrupted　Harry；　who　had　been　listening　attentively；　and　observed　Mr。　Wyllys's　air　of　incredulity。　〃I　had　him　locked　up　in　the　smoke…house；　you　may　recollect。〃

〃And　you　must　observe；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　that　is　a　fact　which　might　look　ugly　before　a　jury　that　did　not　know　you；〃　remarked　Mr。　Clapp；　in　a　sort　of　half…cunning；　half…insinuating　manner。

〃I　do　not　in　the　least　doubt　the　ability　of　many　men；