elinor wyllys-2-第7章

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pital　letters。　As　Willie　was　the　youngest　individual　on　the　list；　his　signature　was　received　by　a　burst　of　applause。　The　little　fellow　was　extremely　elated　by　being　made　of　so　much　consequence；　to　tell　the　truth；　he　understood　very　little　of　what　he　was　about。　If　respect　for　temperance　were　implanted　in　his　mind　on　that　evening；　it　was　also　accompanied　by　still　more　decided　ideas　of　the　great　importance　of　little　boys；　with　the　germ　of　a　confused　notion　as　to　the　absolute　necessity　of　the　approbation　of　a　regularly　organized　public　meeting；　to　foster　every　individual　virtue　in　himself；　and　in　the　human　race　in　general。　Miss　Patsey　very　much　doubted　the　wisdom　of　making　her　little　nephew　play　such　a　prominent　part　before　the　public；　she　had　old…fashioned　notions　about　the　modesty　of　childhood　and　youth。　The　mother；　her　sister　Kate；　however；　was　never　disposed　to　find　fault　with　anything　her　husband　did；　it　was　all　right　in　her　eyes。　Mr。　Clapp　himself　took　the　opportunity　to　thank　the　audience；　in　a　short　but　emphatic　burst；　for　their　sympathy；　concluding　by　expressing　the　hope　that　his　boy　would　one　day　be　as　much　disposed　to　gratitude　for　any　public　favours；　and　as　entirely　submissive；　body　and　soul；　to　the　public　will　of　his　own　time；　as　he　himselfthe　fatherwas　conscious　of　being　at　that　momentwithin　a　few　weeks　of　election。

The　meeting　was　shortly　after　concluded　by　a　temperance　song；　and　a　good　prayer　by　the　elder　minister。

As　the　audience　crowded　out　of　the　door；　Mr。　Clapp　nodded　again　to　the　sailor；　when　passing　near　him。

〃Who　is　that　man；　William？〃　asked　Mrs。　Clapp；　as　they　reached　the　street。

〃It　is　a　person　in　whom　I　am　warmly　interestedan　injured　man。〃　

〃Indeed！one　of　your　clients　I　suppose。〃

〃Yes；　I　am　now　pledged　to　serve　him　to　the　best　of　my　ability。〃

〃He　looks　like　a　sailor。〃

〃He　is　a　sailor；　just　returned　from　a　three　years'　whaling　voyage。　You　will　be　surprised；　Catherine；　when　you　hear　that　man's　story；　but　the　time　has　come　when　it　must　be　revealed　to　the　world。〃

〃You　quite　excite　my　curiosity；　I　hope　you　will　tell　me　the　story？〃

〃Yes；　you　shall　hear　it。　But　where　are　your　sister　and　Charles；　are　they　going　home　with　us？〃

〃No；　I　am　very　sorry；　but　they　told　me　at　the　meeting　they　could　not　stay；　as　they　had　come　over　in　Mrs。　Van　Horne's　carriage。　It　is　a　pity；　for　I　had　made　some　ice…cream；　and　gathered　some　raspberries；　expressly　for　them；　and　we　have　hardly　seen　Charles　since　he　arrived。　But　Patsey　wants　us　to　spend　the　day　at　the　grey　house；　to…morrow；　children　and　all。〃

Mr。　Clapp　assented　to　this　arrangement；　although　he　said　he　should　not　be　able　to　do　more　than　go　over　himself　for　his　family　in　the　evening；　on　account　of　business。

Kate　had　only　her　husband　and　Willie　to　share　her　excellent　ice…cream　and　beautiful　raspberries；　on　that　warm　evening；　the　trio　did　justice；　however；　to　these　nice　refreshments；　and　little　Willie　only　wished　he　could　sign　a　temperance　pledge　every　evening；　if　he　could　sit　up　later　than　usual；　and　eat　an　excellent　supper　after　it。

After　the　little　fellow　had　been　sent　to　bed；　and　his　mother　had　taken　a　look　at　her　younger　children；　who　were　sleeping　sweetly　in　their　usual　places；　the　lawyer　and　his　wife　were　left　alone　in　the　parlour。　It　was　a　charming　moon…light　evening；　though　very　warm；　and　Kate　having　lowered　the　lamp；　threw　herself　into　a　rocking…chair　near　the　window；　while　Mr。　Clapp；　who　had　had　rather　a　fatiguing　day；　was　stretched　out　on　the　sofa。

〃It　is　early　yet；　William；　suppose　you　tell　the　story　you　promised　me；　about　your　client；　the　sailor。〃

〃I　don't　much　like　to　tell　it；　Catherine；　and　yet　it　is　time　you　knew　something　about　it；　for　we　must　proceed　to　action　immediately。〃

〃Oh；　tell　me；　by　all　means；　you　have　really　made　me　quite　curious。　You　know　very　well　that　I　can　keep　a　secret。〃

〃Certainly；　and　I　request　you　will　not　mention　the　facts　I　shall　relate；　to　any　one；　for　some　time；　not　until　we　have　taken　the　necessary　legal　steps。〃

〃Of　course　not；　if　you　wish　it；　and　now　for　the　story。　You　said　this　poor　man　had　been　injured。〃

〃Grossly　injured。〃

〃In　what　manner？〃

〃He　has　been　treated　in　the　most　unjustifiable　manner　by　his　nearest　relatives。　His　reputation　has　been　injured；　and　he　has　been　tyrannically　deprived　of　a　very　large　property。〃

〃Is　it　possible！poor　fellow！　Can　nothing　be　done　for　him？〃

〃That　is　what　we　shall　see。　Yes；　I　flatter　myself　if　there　is　law　in　the　land；　we　shall　yet　be　able　to　restore　him　to　his　rights！〃

〃Does　he　belong　to　this　part　of　the　country？〃

〃He　does　not　himself；　but　those　who　are　revelling　in　his　wealth　do。〃

〃What　is　his　name？Do　I　know　his　family？〃

〃You　will　be　distressed；　Catherine；　when　you　hear　the　name；　you　will　be　astonished　when　you　learn　the　whole　story；　but　the　time　for　concealment　has　gone　by　now。　Several　years　ago　that　poor　sailor　came　to　me；　in　ragged　clothing；　in　poverty　and　distress；　and　first　laid　his　complaint　before　me。　I　did　not　believe　a　word　of　what　he　told　me；　I　thought　the　man　mad；　and　refused　to　have　anything　to　do　with　the　cause。　He　became　disgusted；　and　went　to　sea　again；　and　for　some　time　gave　up　all　hope　of　being　reinstated　in　his　rights；　the　obstacles　seemed　too　great。　But　at　length　a　very　important　witness　in　his　favour　was　accidentally　thrown　in　his　way：　at　the　end　of　his　cruise　he　came　to　me　again；　and　I　confess　I　was　astounded　at　the　evidence　he　then　laid　before　me。　It　is　conclusive；　beyond　a　doubt；　to　any　unprejudiced　mind；〃　said　Mr。　Clapp；　rousing　himself　from　his　recumbent　position。

〃But　you　have　not　told　me　the　man's　name。〃

〃His　name　is　StanleyWilliam　Stanley。〃

〃You　said　I　knew　him；　but　I　never　heard　of　him；　I　don't　know　the　family　at　all。〃

〃Yes；　you　do；　you　know　them　only　too　well；　you　will　be　as　much　surprised　as　I　was　myselfas　I　am　still；　whenever　I　allow　myself　to　dwell　on　the　subject。　Mr。　Stanley　is　the　cousin…german　of　your　friend；　Miss　Elinor　Wyllys。　Mr。　Wyllys　himself；　Mrs。　Stanley；　the　step…mother；　and　young　Hazlehurst；　are　the　individuals　who　stand　between　him　and　his　rights；〃　continued　Mr。　Clapp；　rising；　and　walking　across　the　room；　as　he　ran　his　fingers　through　his　brown　curls。

〃Impossible！〃　exclaimed　Kate；　as　the　fan　she　held　dropped　from　her　hand。

〃Just　what　I　said　myself；　at　first；〃　replied　Mr。　Clapp。

〃But　surely　you　are　deceived；　Williamhow　can　it　be？〃　continued　the　wife；　in　amazement。　〃We　always　thought　that　Mr。　Stanley　was　lost　at　sea；　years　ago！〃

〃Exactlyit　was　thought　so；　but　it　was　not　true。〃

〃But　where　has　he　been　in　the　mean　time？Why　did　he　wait　so　long　before　he　came　to　claim　his　inheritance？〃

〃The　same　unhappy；　reckless　disposition　that　first　sent　him　to　sea；　kept　him　roving　about。　He　did　not　know　of　his　father's　death；　until　four　years　after　it　had　taken　place；　and　he　heard　at　the　same　time　that　he　had　been　disinherited。　When　he　came　home；　after　that　event；　he　found　that　he　was　generally　believed　to　have　been　lost　in　the　Jefferson；　wrecked　in　the　year　18。　He　was；　in　fact；　the　only　man　saved。〃

〃How　very　extraordinary！　But　why　has　he　never　even　shown　himself　among　his　friends　and　connexions　until　now？〃

〃Why；　my　dear；　his　habits　have　been　unhappily　very　bad　in　every　way　for　years；　they　were；　indeed　the　cause　of　his　first　leaving　his　family。　He　hated　everything　like　restrainteven　the　common　restraints　of　society；　and　cared　for　nothing　but　a　sailor's　life；　and　that　in　the　worst　shape；　it　must　be　confessed。　But　he　has　now　grown　wiserhe　has　determined　to　reform。　You　observed　he　signed　the　temperance　pledge　this　evening？〃

〃It　all　sounds　so　strangely；　that　I　cannot　yet　believe　it；　William。〃

〃I　dare　say　notit　took　me　four　years　to　believe　it。〃

〃But　what　do　you　mean　to　do？　I　hope　you　are　not　going　to　undertake　a　law…suit　against　two　of　our　best　friends；　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Mr。　Hazlehurst？〃

〃That　must　depend　on　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　themselves。　I　have　undertaken；　Catherine；　to　do　my　best　towards　restoring　this　injured　man　to　his　property。〃

〃Oh；　William；　suppose　this　man　is　in　the　wrong；　after　all！　Don't　think　of　having　anything　to　do　with　him。〃

〃My　dear；　you　talk　like　a　womanyou　don't　know　what　you　say。　If　I　don't　act　in　the　premises；　do　you　suppose　he　won't　find　another　lawyer　to　undertake　his　cause？〃

〃Let　him　have　another；　then：　but　it　seems　too　bad　that　we　should　take　sides　against　our　best　friends；　it　hardly　seems　honourable；　William；　to　do　so。〃

〃Honour；　alone；　won't　make　a　young　lawyer's　pot　boil；　I　can　tell　you。〃

〃But　I　had　rather　live　poorly；　and　work　hard　all　my　life；　than　that　you　should　undertake　a　dishonest　cause。〃

〃It　is　all　very　pretty　talking；　but　I　have　no　mind　to　live　poorly；　I　intend　to　live　as　well　as　I　can；　and　I　don't　look　upon　this　Stanley　cause　as　a　bad　one　at　all。　I　must　say；　Catherine；　you　are　rather　hard　upon　your　husband；　and　seem　to　think　more　of　the　interests　of　your　friends；　than　of　his　own。〃

〃How　can　you　talk　so；　William；　when　you　know　you　can't　think　it；〃　said　the　wife　reproachfully；　tears　springing　to　her　eyes。

〃Well；　I　only　judge　from　what　you　say　yourself。　But　in　my　opinion　there　is　no　danger　of　a　law…suit。　As　Mr。　Stanley's　agent；　I　shall　first　apply　to　Mrs。　Stanley　and　Mr。　Hazlehurst　to　acknowledge　his　claim；　and　when　the　evidence　is　laid　before　them；　I　have　no　kind　of　doubt　but　they　will　immediately　give　up　the　property；　as　they　are　some　of　your　very　honourable　people；　I　must　say　I　think　they　are　bound　to　do　so。〃

〃Certainly；　if　the　evidence　is　so　clear；　but　it　seems　to　me；　from　all　I　have　heard　since　I　have　been　a　lawyer's　wife；　that　evidence　never　is　so　very　clear；　William；　but　that　people　disagree　about　it。〃

〃Well；　I　flatter　myself　that　people　will　be　staggered　by　the　proofs　we　can　bring　forward；　I　feel　sure　of　public　opinion；　at　least。〃

Kate　was　silenced；　but　though　she　could　think　of　nothing　more　to　urge；　she　was　very　far　from　feeling　easy　on　the　subject。

〃I　hope　with　all　my　heart　it　will　be　settled　amicably；〃　she　added　at　length。

〃There　is　every　probability　that　it　will。　Though　the　story　sounds　so　strangely　to　you　nowjust　as　it　did　to　me；　at　firstyet　when　you　come　to　hear　all　the　facts；　you　will　find　there　is　scarcely　room　for　a　shadow　of　doubt。〃

〃How　sorry　mother　and　Patsey　will　be　when　they　hear　it！〃

〃I　can't　see　why　they　should　be　sorry　to　see　a　man　reinstated　in　his　rights；　after　having　been　deprived　of　them　for　eighteen　years。　If　they　are　not　blinded　by　their　partiality　for　the　Wyllyses　and　Hazlehursts；　they　cannot　help　being　convinced　by　the　evidence　we　can　show。〃

〃How　old　is　this　manthis　sailorthis　Mr。　Stanley？〃

〃Just　thirty…six；　he　tells　me。　Did　you　remark　his　likeness　to　Mr。　Stanley's　portrait　at　Wyllys…Roof？　that　was　the　first　thing　that　struck　me。〃

〃No；　I　hardly　looked　at　him。〃

〃You　must　expect　to　see　him　often　now；　I　have　invited　him　to　dinner　for　to…morrow。〃

〃For　to…morrow？　Well；　Uncle　Dozie　has　sent　me　this　afternoon　a　beautiful　mess　of　green　peas；　and　you　will　have　to　get　something　nice　from　market；　in　the　way　of　poultry　and　fish。　Though；　I　suppose　as　he　has　been　a　common　sailor　so　long；　he　won't　be　very　particular　about　his　dinner。〃

〃He　knows　what　is　good；　I　can　tell　you。　You　must　give　him　such　a　dinner　as　he　would　have　had　at　his　father's　in　old　times。