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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 kindly offered to rich and beautiful girls； to take charge of themselves and their fortunes； but his services had been as often politely declined。 He was not discouraged； however； by these repulses； he still determined to marry； but experience had taught him greater prudencehe decided that his next advances should be made with more caution。 He would shun the great belles； fortune he must have； but he would adopt one of two courses； he would either look out for some very young and very silly girl； who could be persuaded into anything； or he would try to discover some rich woman； with a plain face； who would be flattered by the attentions of the agreeable Mr。 Stryker。 While he was making these reflections he was introduced to Elinor； and we are sorry to say it； she appeared to him to possess the desirable qualifications。 She was certainly very plain； and he found that there was no mistake in the report of her having received two important legacies quite lately。 Miss Elinor Wyllys； thanks to these bequests； to her ex