elinor wyllys-2-第10章
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; 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。〃
〃Well; just as you please; William; only; if you really care for me; do not let the man deceive you; be sure you sift the matter thoroughlywhat you call cross…examine him。〃
〃Never you fear; I know what I am about; Katie; though if I was to follow your advice in law matters; I reckon we should all of us starve together。〃
〃I hope it will all turn out well; but I seem to feel badly about it;〃 said Kate with a sigh; as she rose to light a candle; 〃only don't be too hastytake time。〃
〃We have taken time enough I think; as it is。 We are only waiting now for Mr。 Hazlehurst to arrive in Philadelphia; when we shall put forward our claim。〃
CHAPTER IV。 {XXVII}
〃They call thee rich。〃 COWPER。
{William Cowper (English poet; 1731…1800); 〃Translations of Greek Verses: On A Miser〃 line 1}
WHEN the Wyllyses arrived at Saratoga; after having paid their promised visit to their friends at Poughkeepsie; the first persons they saw in the street; as they were driving to Congress Hall; were Mrs。 Creighton; Mr。 Ellsworth; and Mr。 Stryker; who were loitering along together。 It seemed the excursion to Nahant had been postponed; or given up。
The brother and sister soon discovered that the Wyllyses were among that afternoon's arrivals; and in the course of an hour or two called at their rooms。
〃Here am I; Miss Wyllys;〃 said Mrs。 Creighton; 〃the best of sisters; giving up my own private plans to gratify this brother of mine; who would not let me rest unless I promised to pass another week here。〃
〃Josephine makes the most of her complaisance; but I don't think she was so very much averse to giving up Nahant。 I am sure at least; she did not care half so much about going; as I did about staying。〃
Mr。 Stryker also appeared; to make his bow to the ladies。 This gentleman had indeed come to Saratoga; with the express intention of making himself particularly agreeable to Miss Elinor Wyllys。 As long ago as Jane's wedding; he had had his eye on her; but; like Mr。 Ellsworth; he had seldom been able to meet her。 Mr。 Stryker was a man between forty and fifty; possessing some little property; a very good opinion of himself; and quite a reputation for cleverness and knowledge of the world。 He was one of those men who hang loose on society; he seemed to have neither relations nor connexions; no one knew his origin: for years he had occupied the same position in the gay world of New York; with this difference; that at five…and…twenty he was known as Bob Stryker; at five…and…thirty he was Colonel Stryker; the traveller; and at five…and…forty he had returned to New York; after a second long absence; as Mr。 Stryker; tout court。 He prided himself upon being considered a gentleman at large; a man of the world; whose opinion on all subjects was worth hearing。 Since his last return from Europe; he had announced that he was looking about for that necessary encumbrance; a wife; but he took good care not to mention what he called his future intentions; until he had actually committed himself more than once。 He had several times kindl