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ile I was in the Pacific； in this ship； nigh three years； and out of the reach of drink； I had time to think what a fool I had been all my life； for wasting my opportunities。 I thought there must be some way of getting back my father's property； Mr。 Clapp had said； that if I was really the man I pretended to be； I must have some papers to make it out； but if I hadn't any papers； he couldn't help me； even if I was William Stanley forty times over。 It is true； I couldn't show him any documents that time； for I didn't have them with me at Longbridge； but I made up my mind； while I was out on my last voyage； that as soon as I got home； I would give up drinking； get my papers together； and set about doing my best to get back my father's property。 We came home last February； I went to work； I kept sober； got my things together； put money by for a lawyer's fee； and then went straight to Longbridge again。 I went to Mr。 Clapp's office； and first I handed him the money； and then I gave him my papers。 I went to him； because he had treated me better than any other lawyer； and told me if I was William Stanley； and could prove it； he could help me better than any other man； for he knew all about my father's will。 Well； he hadn't expected ever to see me again； but he heard my story all out this time； read the documents； and at last believed me； and undertook the case。 The rest is known to the executors and legatee by this time； and it is to be hoped； that after enjoying my father's estate for nigh twenty years； they will now make it over to his son。
〃Dictated to W。 C。 Clapp； by the undersigned；
＇Signed；＇ 〃WILLIAM STANLEY。〃
｛〃Dutchman〃 = a ship trading between the Netherlands and the Netherlands East Indies （now Indonesia）； of which Batavia （now Jakarta） was the capital｝
〃Are these facts； so far as they are known to you； all true？〃 asked Miss Agnes； as she finished the paper。 〃I mean the earlier part of the statement； which refers to William Stanley's movements before he sailed in the Jefferson？〃
〃Yes； that part of the story is correct； so far as it goes。〃
〃How extraordinary！〃 exclaimed Elinor。
〃What does Harry think of this paper？〃
〃Both he and Mrs。 Stanley are more disposed to listen to the story than I am； however； we are to meet this individual to…morrow； and shall be able then； I hope； to see our way more clearly。〃
〃Do you find any glaring inconsistency in the latter part of the account？〃 continued Miss Agnes。
〃Nothing impossible； certainly； but the improbability of William Stanley's never applying to his father's executors； until he appeared； so late in the day； as Mr。 Clapp's client； is still just as striking as ever in my eyes。 Mr。 Reed accounts for it； by the singular character of the man himself； and the strange； loose notions sailors get on most subjects； but that is far from satisfying my mind。〃
〃Mrs。 Stanley is evidently much perplexed；〃 observed Miss Wyllys； 〃she always feels any trouble acutely； and this startling application is enough to cause her the most serious anxiety； under every 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 re