elinor wyllys-2-第34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 surp