elinor wyllys-2-第30章
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ubts and anxieties； misgivings would occasionally cross her mind； in spite of herself； in spite of Mr。 Wyllys's opinion； and the bare idea of opposing one who might possibly be her husband's son； affected all her feelings。 Like Hazlehurst； she was very desirous to examine farther into the matter； without delay； scarcely knowing yet what to hope and what to fear。
Ellsworth and Mrs。 Creighton soon learned the extraordinary summons which Harry had received； he informed them of the facts himself。
〃The man is an impostor； depend upon it； Mr。 Hazlehurst！〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Creighton； with much warmth。
〃I have little doubt of it；〃 replied Harry； 〃for I do not see how he can well be anything else。〃
〃You know； Hazlehurst； that I am entirely at your service in any way you please；〃 said Ellsworth。
〃Thank you； Ellsworth； I have a habit of looking to you in any difficulty； as you know already。〃
〃But I cannot conceive that it should be at all a difficult matter to unravel so coarse a plot as this must be！〃 cried Mrs。 Creighton。 〃What possible foundation can these men have for their story？ Tell me all about it； Mr。 Hazlehurst； pray！〃 continued the lady； who had been standing when Harry entered the room； prepared to accompany her brother and himself to Miss Wyllys's room。 〃Sit down； I beg； and tell me at once all you choose to trust me with；〃 she continued； taking a seat on the sofa。
Harry followed her example。 〃You are only likely to hear a great deal too much of it I fear； if you permit Ellsworth and myself to talk the matter over before you。〃 He then proceeded to give some of the most important facts； as far as he knew them himself； at least。 Judging from this account； Mr。 Ellsworth pronounced himself decidedly inclined to think with Mr。 Wyllys； that this claim was a fabrication of Clapp's。 Mrs。 Creighton was very warm in the expression of her indignation and her sympathy。 After a long and animated conversation； Mr。 Ellsworth proposed that they should join the Wyllyses： his sister professed herself quite ready to do so； and； accompanied by Harry； they went to the usual rendezvous of their party； at Congress Hall。
Robert Hazlehurst had already left Saratoga with his family； having returned from Lake George for that purpose； a day earlier than his friends； and when Mrs。 Creighton and the two gentlemen entered Miss Wyllys's parlour； they only found there the Wyllyses themselves and Mary Van Alstyne； all of whom had already heard of Harry's threatened difficulties。 Neither Miss Agnes nor Elinor had seen him since he had received the letters； and they both cordially expressed their good wishes in his behalf； for they both seemed inclined to Mr。 Wyllys's opinion of the new claimant。
〃We have every reason to wish that the truth may soon be discovered；〃 said Miss Agnes。
〃I am sorry you should have such a painful； vexatious task before you；〃 said Elinor； frankly offering her hand to Harry。
〃Have you no sympathies for this new sailor cousin of yours； Miss Wyllys？I must say I have a very poor opinion of him myself；〃 said Mrs。 Creighton。
〃Whoever he be； I hope he will only receive what is justly his due；〃 replied Elinor。
〃I am happy； Miss Wyllys； that you seem favourably inclined towards Hazlehurst；〃 said Mr。 Ellsworth。 〃On the present occasion I consider him not only as a friend but as a client； and that is the dearest tie we lawyers are supposed to feel。〃
〃One would naturally incline rather more to a client of yours ex officio； Mr。 Ellsworth； than to one of Mr。 Clapp's； that very disagreeable brother…in…law of Miss Patsey Hubbard's；〃 said Mary Van Alstyne； smiling。
It was soon decided that the party should break up the next day。 The Wyllyses； with Mrs。 Stanley and Mary Van Alstyne； were to return to Longbridge。 Mrs。 Creighton and Mr。 Ellsworth were obliged to pay their long deferred visit to Nahant； the gentleman having some business of importance in the neighbourhood； but it was expected that they also should join the family at Wyllys…Roof as early as possible。 Jane was to return to New York with her sister…in…law； Mrs。 St。 Leger； leaving Miss Emma Taylor flirting at Saratoga； under the charge of a fashionable chaperon； while Mr。 Hopkins was still fishing at Lake George。
CHAPTER XI。 ｛XXXIV｝
〃'Whence this delay？Along the crowded street A funeral comes； and with unusual pomp。'〃 ROGERS。
｛Samuel Rogers （English poet； 1763…1855）； 〃Italy： A Funeral〃 lines 1…2｝
IT is a common remark； that important events seldom occur singly； and they seem indeed often to follow each other with startling rapidity； like the sharpest flashes of lightning and the loudest peals of thunder from the dark clouds of a summer shower。 On arriving in New York； the Wyllyses found that Tallman Taylor had been taken suddenly and dangerously ill； during the previous night； the consequence of a stroke of the sun； having exposed himself imprudently； by crossing the bay to Staten…Island for a dinner party； in an open boat； when the thermometer stood at 95 ｛degrees｝ in the shade。 He was believed in imminent danger； and was too ill to recognize his wife when she arrived。 Miss Wyllys and Elinor remained in town； at the urgent request of Jane； who was in great distress； while Mr。 Wyllys returned home with Mrs。 Stanley and Mary Van Alstyne。
｛Susan's father； James Fenimore Cooper； twice suffered from sunstroke； in 1823 and 1825； while sailing a small boat near New York City； and she later wrote of the attacks of delirium that followed｝
After twenty…four hours of high delirium； the physicians succeeded in subduing the worst symptoms； but the attack took the character of a bilious fever； and the patient's recovery was thought very doubtful from the first。 Poor Jane sat listlessly in the sick…room； looking on and weeping； unheeded by her husband； who would allow no one but his mother to come near him； not even his wife or his sisters； he would not； indeed； permit his mother to leave his sight for a moment； his eyes following every movement of her's with the feverish restlessness of disease； and the helpless dependence of a child。 Jane mourned and wept； Adeline had at least the merit of activity； and made herself useful as an assistant nurse； in preparing whatever was needed by her brother。 These two young women； who had been so often together in brilliant scenes of gaiety； were now； for the first time； united under a roof of sorrow and suffering。
〃That lovely young creature is a perfect picture of helpless grief！〃 thought one of the physicians； as he looked at Jane。
For a week； Tallman Taylor continued in the same state。 Occasionally； as he talked with the wild incoherency of delirium； he uttered sentences painful to hear； as they recalled deeds of folly and vice； words passed his lips which were distressing to all present； but which sunk deep into the heart of the sick man's mother。 At length he fell into a stupor； and after lingering for a day or two in that state； he expired； without having fully recovered his consciousness for a moment。 The handsome； reckless； dashing son of the rich merchant lay on his bier； a career of selfish enjoyment and guilty folly was suddenly closed by the grave。
Miss Agnes's heart sunk within her as she stood； silent； beside the coffin of Jane's husband； remembering how lately she had seen the young man； full of life and vigour； thoughtlessly devoting the best energies of body and soul to culpable self…indulgence。 It is melancholy indeed； to record such a close to such a life； and yet it is an event repeated in the gay world with every year that passes。 It is to be feared there were companions of Tallman Taylor's； pursuing the same course of wicked folly； which had been so suddenly interrupted before their eyes； who yet never gave one serious thought to the subject： if they paused； it was only for a moment； while they followed their friend to the grave； from thence hurrying again to the same ungrateful； reckless abuse of life； and its highest blessings。
Jane was doubly afflicted at this moment； her baby sickened soon after its return to town； and died only a few days after her husband； the young father and his infant boy were laid in the same grave。
Jane herself was ill for a time； and when she par
