elinor wyllys-2-第44章

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rouche　behind；　the　ladies；　including　Mrs。　Creighton；　while　Harry　himself　sat　at　the　side　of　the　coachman。

Elinor　was　on　the　last　step　of　the　piazza；　looking　eagerly　towards　the　faces　of　her　friends　as　they　advanced。

〃Grandpapa！〃　she　exclaimed；　looking　all　anxious　curiosity；　as　the　wagon　stopped。

Mr。　Wyllys　smiled；　but　not　triumphantly。

Ellsworth　shook　his　head　as　he　sprang　from　the　wagon　and　took　her　hand。

〃Can　it　be　possible！Is　the　suit　lost？〃　she　again　exclaimed。

〃Only　too　possible！〃　replied　Mr。　Ellsworth。　〃The　jury　have　given　a　verdict　for　the　plaintiff；　in　spite　of　our　best　endeavours。〃

Elinor　turned　towards　Harry；　and　offered　him　both　her　hands。　Hazlehurst　received　them　with　feeling；　with　emotion。

〃I　can't　acknowledge　that　I　am　such　a　poor　forlorn　fellow　as　one　might　fancy；〃　he　said；　smiling；　〃while　I　have　still　such　kind　and　warm　friends。〃

Elinor　blushing　to　find　herself　between　the　two　gentlemen；　advanced　to　receive　the　kiss　of　her　aunt　and　Mrs。　Stanley。　The　countenance　of　the　latter　lady　showed　evident　traces　of　the　painful　feelings　she　had　experienced　at　the　decision。　Mrs。　Creighton　too　looked　a　little　disturbed；　though　graceful　as　ever　in　her　manner；　she　was　not　easy；　it　was　clear　that　she　had　been　much　disappointed　by　Harry's　defeat。

〃I　am　grieved　to　hear　the　bad　news；　Mr。　Hazlehurst！〃　said　Mary　Van　Alstyne。

〃Poor　HarryI　am　so　sorry　for　you！〃　exclaimed　Jane；　looking　very　lovely　as　she　raised　her　eyes　to　her　kinsman's　face。

〃Ellsworth；　can't　you　manage　to　lose　all　you　are　worth　and　a　little　more？〃　said　Harry；　smiling；　after　having　thanked　the　ladies　for　their　kind　reception。

〃As　I　could　not　keep　your　property　for　you　with　the　best　will　in　the　world；　no　doubt　I　could　get　rid　of　my　own　too；〃　replied　his　friend。

When　the　whole　party　assembled　in　the　drawing…room；　nothing　was　talked　of　for　a　while　but　the　trial。　It　appeared　that　the　jury　had　been　fifteen　hours　considering　their　verdict。　The　doors　of　the　court…room　had　been　crowded　by　people　curious　to　learn　the　decision　of　the　case；　and　when　the　jury　entered　the　court　with　their　verdict　there　was　a　rush　forward　to　hear　it。

〃Verdict　for　the　plaintiff〃　was　announced　by　the　clerk　in　a　loud　voice；　in　the　usual　official　manner。

〃Clapp　was　standing　near　me　at　the　moment；〃　said　Harry；　〃there　was　a　flash　of　triumph　in　his　face　as　he　turned　towards　me。　The　sailor　actually　looked　bewildered　for　an　instant；　but　he　soon　appeared　very　well　satisfied。　As　for　myself；　I　honestly　declare　that　I　expected　such　would　be　the　result。〃

〃It　was　too　late　to　write　to　you；　my　child；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys；　〃we　only　heard　the　verdict　in　time　to　prepare　for　leaving　town　in　the　morning's　boat。　And　now；　Nelly；　you　must　give　us　some　consolation　in　the　shape　of　a　good　dinner。〃

It　was　very　evident　that　although　everybody　endeavoured　to　wear　a　cheerful　face；　the　defeat　had　been　much　felt　by　Mrs。　Stanley；　Mr。　Wyllys；　and　Ellsworth。　Hazlehurst　himself　really　appeared　better　prepared　for　the　misfortune　than　any　of　the　party；　in　fact　he　conceived　Mrs。　Stanley's　position　to　be　more　painful　than　his　own；　though　so　much　less　critical　in　a　pecuniary　view。　Mrs。　Creighton　was　certainly　neither　so　gay；　nor　so　easy　as　usual　in　her　manner；　one　might　have　fancied　that　she　felt　herself　in　an　unpleasant　and　rather　an　awkward　positiona　very　unusual　thing　for　that　lady。　It　might　have　struck　an　observer　that　she　wished　to　appear　as　amiable　as　ever　to　Harry；　but　she　did　not　succeed　entirely　in　concealing　that　her　interest　in　him　was　materially　diminished；　now　that　he　was　no　longer　Mr。　Stanley's　heir。　It　was　only　by　trifling　shades　of　manner；　however；　that　this　was　betrayed；　perhaps　no　one　of　the　circle　at　Wyllys…Roof　remarked　it；　perhaps　it　was　not　lost　upon　Hazlehurst；　there　seemed　to　be　an　occasional　expression　in　his　eye　which　said　so。

After　the　party　had　separated　to　prepare　for　dinner；　Elinor　joined　her　aunt；　and　learned　many　farther　particulars　of　the　trial。

〃Is　there　no　hope；　Aunt？can　nothing　be　doneno　new　trial？〃

〃I　am　afraid　not。　The　gentlemen　are　to　hold　several　consultations　on　that　point；　however；　but　they　seem　to　agree　that　little　can　be　done。　Both　your　grandfather　and　Harry　were　determined　to　go　on　if　there　were　the　least　probability　of　success；　but　Mr。　Grant；　Mr。　Ellsworth；　and　several　other　gentlemen　say　they　can　give　them　no　grounds　for　encouragement；　the　trial　was　perfectly　regular；　and　they　think　an　appeal　for　a　new　trial　would　be　rejected；　and　even　if　it　were　granted；　they　see　no　reason　to　hope　for　a　different　verdict。〃

〃And　yet　there　cannot　be　a　doubt；　Aunt；　to　us　at　least；　that　this　man　is　an　impostor！〃　exclaimed　Elinor。

〃No；　not　to　us　certainly；　but　it　was　not　possible　to　place　the　proofs　of　this　as　clearly　before　the　court　as　they　have　appeared　to　us。　Harry　says　he　was　afraid　from　the　beginning　that　this　would　be　the　case。〃

〃How　well　he　bears　it！〃　exclaimed　Elinor。　〃And　Mrs。　Stanley；　she　can　scarcely　speak　on　the　subject！〃

〃She　feels　it　most　keenly。　Would　you　believe　it；　my　child；　when　we　arrived　on　board　the　boat　this　morning；　we　found　Mr。　Clapp　and　this　man　already　there；　and　at　a　moment　when　Mrs。　Stanley　and　I　were　sitting　alone　together；　the　gentlemen　having　left　us；　and　Mrs。　Creighton　being　with　another　party；　they　came　and　walked　up　and　down　before　us。　Mr。　Clapp　took　off　his　hat；　and　running　his　hand　through　his　hair；　as　he　does　so　often；　he　said　in　a　loud　voice：　〃Well；　Mr。　Stanley；　when　do　you　go　to　Greatwood？〃　Happily；　Harry　saw　us　from　the　other　side　of　the　deck；　and　he　instantly　joined　us。　Of　course　we　did　not　mention　to　him　what　had　passed；　and　although　Mr。　Clapp　was　noisy　and　vulgar；　yet　he　did　not　come　so　near　us　again。〃

〃What　a　miserable　man　he　is！〃　exclaimed　Elinor。　〃And　is　it　possible　that　sailor　is　going　to　take　possession　of　my　uncle　Stanley's　house　immediately？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　my　child。　Everything　has　been　left　in　the　hands　of　Robert　Hazlehurst　and　Mr。　Grant；　by　our　friends。〃

Already　had　Elinor's　mind　been　busy　with　planning　relief　for　Hazlehurst；　if　he　were　now　worse　than　penniless；　she　was　richit　would　be　in　her　power　to　assist　him。　The　point　itself　had　been　long　since　settled　by　her；　but　the　manner　in　which　it　was　to　be　done　was　now　to　be　considered。　She　was　determined　at　least　that　her　old　playfellow　should　have　the　use　of　any　sum　he　might　require；　under　the　circumstances　that　would　be　the　easiest　and　most　acceptable　to　himself。　Her　grandfather　must　make　the　offer；　they　would　either　wait　until　he　returned　from　the　cruise　in　the　Petrel；　or　possibly　it　would　be　better　to　write　to　him　while　absent。

Elinor　had；　perhaps；　been　more　disappointed　by　the　verdict　than　any　one；　for　she　had　been　very　sanguine　as　to　the　result；　she　had　not　conceived　it　possible　that　such　gross　injustice　could　triumph。

But；　alas；　how　imperfect　is　merely　human　justice　in　its　best　form！　It　is　a　humiliating　reflection　for　the　human　race；　that　Justice；　one　of　the　highest　attributes　of　Truth；　should　have　so　little　power　among　men；　that　when　guided　by　human　reason　alone　she　should　so　often　err！

To　guard　faithfully　the　general　purity　of　Justice；　to　watch　that　her　arm　is　neither　crippled　by　violence　nor　palsied　by　fear；　that　her　hands　are　not　polluted　by　bribery；　nor　her　ears　assailed　by　flattery；　is　all　that　human　means　can　do；　but　wo　｛sic｝　to　the　society　where　this　duty　is　neglected；　for　disgrace　and　general　corruption　are　then　inevitable。

It　was　a　day　of　movement　at　Wyllys…Roof；　after　the　arrival　of　the　party　from　Philadelphia　there　were　constant　communications　with　their　neighbours　at　Broadlawn；　as　the　long　talked　of　cruise　of　the　Petrel　had　been　only　postponed　for　Harry's　return；　and　young　de　Vaux　was　now　all　impatience　to　be　off。　When　Elinor　went　down　for　dinner　she　found　Ellsworth　and　Harry　on　the　piazza　playing　with　Bruno；　the　fine　Newfoundland　dog　which　Hazlehurst　had　given　her　when　he　first　went　abroad。

〃He　is　a　noble　creature！〃　exclaimed　Ellsworth。

〃I　am　making　friends　with　Bruno　again；　you　see；〃　said　Harry　as　Elinor　drew　near。　〃What　would　you　say　if　I　coaxed　him　off　to　the　Petrel　with　me　to…morrow？〃

〃You　are　very　welcome　to　his　company　for　the　voyage；　if　you　can　persuade　him　to　go。　Down　Bruno；　down　my　good　friend；〃　she　said；　as　the　dog　bounded　towards　her；　〃I　wish　you　would　remember　that　a　thin　white　dress　must　be　treated　with　some　respect。　Are　you　really　going　to…morrow？〃　she　added；　turning　to　Harry。

〃Yes；　we　are　under　sailing　orders。　I　have　just　been　over　to　look　at　the　Petrel；　and　everything　is　ready。　De　Vaux　has　only　been　waiting　for　methe　rest　of　the　party　has　been　collected　for　some　days。　I　found　Smith　the　conchologist；　and　Stryker；　at　Broadlawn。〃

〃Has　your　course　been　finally　settled？〃　asked　Ellsworth。

〃Yes；　we　are　to　circumnavigate　Long…Island。〃

〃You　will　have　an　agreeable　cruise；　I　dare　say；　with　a　pleasant　set　of　messmates；　Hubert　de　Vaux　is　a　good　fellow　himself；　and　Stryker　is　in　his　element　on　such　occasions。〃

〃We　are　to　have　Charlie　Hubbard　too；　and　Harman　Van　Horne。〃

〃How　long　will　you　be　gone？〃　said　Elinor。

〃Some　ten　days；　or　a　fortnight　at　the　very　farthest。〃

〃Can　we　see　anything　of　Mr。　de　Vaux's　boat　from　here？〃　asked　Mrs。　Creighton；　stepping　on　the　piazza。

〃Only　her　masts；　in　this　direction；　near　the　grove；〃　replied　Harry。　〃She　is　a　schooner；　and　a　beautiful　craft；　too。〃

〃Miss　Wyllys；　you　should　coax　Mr。　de　Vaux　to　give　the　ladies　a　pic…nic　when　he　returns；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。

〃No　doubt　he　would　be　happy　to　do　so；　if　you　were　to　express　the　wish；〃　said　Elinor。

〃Unfortunately　I　shall　not　be　here。　Wyllys…Roof　is　a　dangerous　place；　one　always　stays　here　too　long；　but　I　cannot　positively　afford　more　than　a　day　or　two　at　present；　I　have　promised　to　be　in　town　on　Thursday。〃

Elinor　expressed　her　regrets　very　hospitably；　and　they　were　soon　after　summoned　to　dinner。

In　the　evening；　Hubert　de　Vaux　and　the　gentlemen　from　Broadlawn；　engaged　for　the　cruise；　walked　in。　Charlie　Hubbard　was　there　too；　he　had　remained　in　Philadelphia　during　the　whole　trial；　and　had　just　returned　home　that　morning。

〃And　so　you　are　positively　going　to…morrow；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys　to　young　de　Vaux。

〃Positively；　at　six　in　the　morning。〃

〃Is　it　part　of　your　plan；　to　stow　yourselves　away　at　night　in　the　Petrel？〃

〃The　Petrel's　cabin　is　not　to　be　despised；　I　assure　you；　sir。　It　has　six　as　good　berths　as　those　of　any　North…River　sloop　that　ever　carried　passengers　in　days　of　yore。　But　we　shall　only　sleep　on　board　occasionally；　for　the　fun　of　the　thing。〃

｛〃North…River　sloop〃　=　the　Hudson　River　was　also　called　the　North　River；　and　before　steamboats；　passengers　travelled　between　New　York　and　Albany　by　what　were　known　as　Hudson　River　or　North　River　sloops｝

〃At　what　places　do　you　intend　to　put　into　port？〃

〃We　are　going　to　shoot　for　a　day　or　two　on　Long…Island；　and　we　shall　let　the　Yankees　have　a　sight　of　the　Petrel；　at　New　Haven；　Sachem's…Head；　and　Nantucket。〃

｛〃Sachem's　Head〃　=　Sachem　Head　harbor　is　about　10　miles　east　of　New　Haven；　Connecticut｝

〃I　have　no　doubt　you　will　have　a　pleasant　excursion。〃

〃Our　only　difficulty　at　present　seems　the　prospect　of　too　much　comfort；〃　said　Charlie。　〃Mrs。　de　Vaux　expressed　some　fears　of　a　famine　at　Longbridge　in　consequence　of　this　cruise；　we　carry　off