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〃But mine are grey;〃 said Harry。
〃More of a hazel; I think。〃
〃Oh; no; William Stanley's eyes were as different as possible from Mr。 Hazlehurst's; in colour and shape!〃 exclaimed the lady。
The conversation continued some time longer; but the specimen just given will suffice to show its character; nothing of importance was elicited; and not one point decidedly settled; which had not been already known to Harry。 He continued his round of visits throughout the day; with much the same result。 The memories of the people about Greatwood seemed to be playing at cross…purposes; and yet there was no doubt; that all those persons to whom Hazlehurst applied; had known young Stanley for years; and there was every reason to believe they were well disposed to give all the evidence in their power。
》From Mrs。 Lawson's; Harry went to the house of another acquaintance; a Captain Johnson; and the following is the amount of what he gathered here; as it was hastily entered in his note…book:
〃Eyes grey; hair black; rather stout for his age; sullen temper; very dull; bad company cause of his ruin; not cold…hearted; stuttered a little when excited; expression good when a boy; but much changed when first came home from sea; Billings the cause of his ruin。〃
So much for Captain Johnson。 The next stopping…place was at a man's; by the name of Hill; who had been coachman at Mr。 Stanley's for several years; his account follows:
〃Hill says: 'Would get in a passion when couldn't have his own way; have heard him stutter; always in some scrape or other after first went to college; eyes blue; hair brown; sharp enough when he pleased; but always heard he hated books; short for his age when first went to sea; and thin; had grown three or four inches when he came back; should have thought him five feet eight or nine; when last saw him; face grown fuller and red; when came home。'〃
》From Hill's; Harry went to see Mr。 Anderson; who had kept the principal tavern at Franklin Cross…Roads; during William Stanley's boyhood; but he was not at home。
He then called at Judge Stone's: 〃Mrs。 S。 thought him handsome young man; judge; quite ugly; husband says eyes a greenish colour; wife thinks were dark brown; height about my own; said judge; not near so tall; says Mrs。 S。: both agreed he was morose in temper; and dull at learning。〃
At several other places where Harry called; he found that William Stanley had been merely known by sight。 Others related capital stories of scrapes; in which they had been implicated with the boy; but could tell Harry very little to the purpose; where it came to particular questions。 Three individuals pronounced him tall; four thought he was middle sized; two declared he was short。 Two inferences; however; might be drawn from all that had been said: William Stanley must have been of an unpleasant temper; while general evidence pronounced him rather more dull than most boys。 With these two facts at least sufficiently well established; while his head was filled with contradictory visions; of hair; eyes; and complexion; of various shades and colours; Harry returned in the evening; quite jaded and worn…out with his day's exertions; not the least of which had been; to reconcile totally opposite accounts on a dozen different points。
Mrs。 Stanley was awaiting his return with much anxiety; and while Harry was drinking an excellent cup of teathe most refreshing thing in the world to a person who is fatigued; even in warm weatherhe reported his day's work。 His friend seemed to think the account anything but encouraging; though Harry declared; that it was well worth the labour and vexation to establish the two facts; regarding the young man's capacity and temper; in which respects he certainly differed from the claimant。
〃What miserable hypocrites both this man and his lawyer must be!〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Stanley。
〃Hypocrisy figures often enough in courts of justice; ma'am; and is only too often successful for a time。〃
〃I am afraid; my dear Harry; they will give you a great deal of trouble!〃
〃I have no doubt of it;〃 replied Hazlehurst; 〃but still I hope to defeat them; and in the end; to punish their vile conspiracy。〃
〃A defeat would he distressing to both Mr。 Wyllys and myself; but to you; my dear young friend; it would be serious indeed!〃 she observed; with feeling。
〃We shall yet gain the day; I trust;〃 said Harry。 〃The consequences of defeat would indeed be very serious to me;〃 he added。 〃In such a case I should lose everything; and a little more; as Paddy would say。 I made a deliberate calculation the other day; and I find; after everything I own has been given up; that there would still be a debt of some thirty thousand dollars to pay off。〃
〃It is wise; I suppose; to be prepared for the worst;〃 said Mrs。 Stanley; sadly; 〃but in such a case; Harry; you must look to your friends。 Remember; that I should consider it a duty to assist you; in any pecuniary difficulties which might result from a defeat。〃
〃You are very good; ma'am; I am grateful for the offer。 In case of our failure; I should certainly apply to my immediate friends; for I could never bear the thought of being in debt to those rascals。 But if the affair turns out in that way; I must stay at home and work hard; to clear myself entirely。 I am young; and if we fail to repel this claim; still I shall hope by industry and prudence; to discharge all obligations before I am many years older。〃
〃I have never doubted; Harry; that in either case you would do what is just and honourable; but I mourn that there should be any danger of such a sacrifice。〃
〃It would be a sacrifice; indeed; including much that I have valued heretoforetastes; habits; partialities; prospects; fortune; hopesall must undergo a change; all must he sacrificed。〃
〃And hopes are often a precious part of a young man's portion;〃 said Mrs。 Stanley。
Hazlehurst happened to raise his eyes as she spoke; and; from the expression of her face; he fancied that she was thinking of Mrs。 Creighton。 He changed colour; and remained silent a moment。
〃You would be compelled to give up your connexion with Mr。 Henley;〃 she observed; by way of renewing the conversation。
〃Yes; of course; I should have to abandon that; I could not afford it; I should have to devote myself to my profession。 I have no notion; however; of striking my colours to these land…pirates until after a hard battle; I assure you;〃 he said; more cheerfully。 〃Great generals always prepare for a retreat; and so shall I; but only as the last extremity。 Indeed; I think our affairs look more encouraging just now。 It seems next to impossible; for such a plot to hold together in all its parts; we shall be able probably; to find out more than one weak point which will not bear an attack。〃
〃It is certainly important to establish the difference in temper and capacity; between the claimant and William Stanley;〃 said Mrs。 Stanley。
〃Highly important; Ellsworth is hard at work; too; in tracing the past life of the sailor; and by his last letters; I find he had written to young Stanley's school…master; and to the family physician。 He had seen the sailor; and in addition to Mr。 Wyllys's remarks upon his gait; which is different from that of William when a boy; Ellsworth writes; that he was very much struck with the shape of the man's limbs; so different from those of the portrait of Mr。 Stanley's son; when a lad; which they have at Wyllys…Roof; he thinks the family physician may help him there; fortunately; he is still living。〃
〃It is a great pity the nurse's faculties should have failed!〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Stanley。
〃Yes; it's a pity; indeed; her evidence would have been very important。 But we shall do without her; I hope。〃
〃Are you going to Wyllys…Roof again; before the trial?〃
〃No; I shall have too much to do; here and in Philadelphia。 Mr。 Wyllys has kindly asked me; however; to go there; as soon as the matter is settled; whether for good or for evil。〃
〃I thought I heard you talking over with Mr。 de Vaux; some boating excursion; to take place in August; from Longbridge; has it been given up?〃
〃Not given up; but de Vaux very good…naturedly proposed postponing it; until after my affairs were settled。 It is to take place as soon as I am ready; whether I shall join it with flying colours; or as a worsted man; time alone can decide。〃
The mail was just then brought in; as usual there was a letter for Harry; from Ellsworth。
〃Wyllys…Roof; August; 183…。
〃Our application to the family physician proves entirely successful; my dear Hazlehurst; my physiological propensities were not at fault。 I had a letter last evening from Dr。 H…; who now lives in Baltimore; and he professes himself ready to swear to the formation of young Stanley's hands and feet; which he says resembled those of Mr。 Stanley; the father; and the three children; who died before William S。 grew up。 His account agrees entirely with the portrait of the boy; as it now exists at Wyllys…Roof; the arms and hands are long; the fingers slender; nails elongated; as you well know; Mr。 Clapp's client is the very reverse of thishis hands are short and thick; his fingers what; in common parlance; would be called dumpy。 I was struck with the fact when I first saw him in the stre