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to him different in tone； he was also disposed to believe the claimant shorter and fuller than William Stanley； in the formation of his body and limbs； as to this man's gait； which was entirely different from that of William Stanley； as a boy； nearer observation had increased Mr。 Wyllys's first impression on that subject。 On these particular points； Mrs。 Stanley and Hazlehurst were no judges； for the first had scarcely seen her step…son； the last had only a child's recollection of him。 Nor could Miss Agnes's opinion have much weight； since she had seldom seen the boy； during the last years he passed on shore； for； at that time； she had been much detained at home； by the ill health of her mother。 Hazlehurst had watched the claimant closely； and the interview had silenced his first misgivings； for he had been much struck with two things： he had always heard； whenever the subject of William Stanley's character had been alluded to before him； that this unfortunate young man was sullen in temper； and dull in mind。 Now； the sailor's whole expression and manner； in his opinion； had shown too much cleverness for William Stanley； he had appeared decidedly quick…witted； and his countenance was certainly rather good…natured than otherwise。 Mr。 Wyllys admitted that Harry's views were just； he was struck with both these observations； he thought them correct and important。 Then Hazlehurst thought he had seen some signs of intelligence between Clapp and the sailor once or twice； a mere glance； he could not be positive； however； since it might have been his own suspicions。 As to the volume of the Spectator； he had felt at first morally certain that he had read that very volume at Greatwood； only four years ago； but he had since remembered that his brother had the same edition； and he might have read the book in Philadelphia； in the mean time he would try to recall the circumstances more clearly to his mind； for so long as he had a doubt； he could not swear to the fact。 He knew it was not the octavo edition； at Greatwood； that he had been reading； for he distinctly remembered the portrait of Steele in the frontispiece； and Addison's papers on the Paradise Lost； which he had been reading； that very portrait； and those papers； were contained in the volume handed to him by Clapp。 Both Mr。 Wyllys and Hazlehurst were gratified to find； that Mrs。 Stanley differed from them less than they had feared。 She confessed； that at one moment her heart had misgiven her； but on looking closely at the sailor； she thought him less like her husband than she had expected； and she had been particularly struck by his embarrassment； when she had asked him to describe the furniture of the drawing…room at Greatwood； the very last summer he had been there； for he ought certainly under such circumstances； to have remembered it as well as herself； he had looked puzzled； and had glanced at Mr。 Clapp； and the lawyer had immediately broken off the examination。 Such were the opinions of the friends at this stage of the proceedings。 Still it was an alarming truth； that if there were improbabilities； minor facts； and shades of manner； to strengthen their doubts； there was； on the other side； a show of evidence； which might very possibly prove enough to convince a jury。 Hazlehurst had a thousand things to attend to； but he had decided to wait at Wyllys…Roof until the arrival of Mr。 Ellsworth。
｛〃Addison's papers on the Paradise Lost〃 = in fact； Addison's essays on Paradise Lost are contained in volumes four and five of the Spectator｝
Leaving those most interested in this vexatious affair to hold long consultations together in Mr。 Wyllys's study； we must now proceed to record a visit which Miss Agnes received from one of our Longbridge acquaintances； and we shall therefore join the ladies。
〃I am sorry； my dear； that the house is not so quiet as we could wish； just now；〃 said Miss Agnes to Jane； one morning； as she and Elinor were sitting together in the young widow's room。
〃Thank you； Aunt； but it does not disturb me； and I know it is not to be avoided just now；〃 said Jane； languidly。
〃No； it cannot be helped； with this troublesome business going on； and we shall have Mrs。 Creighton and Mr。 Ellsworth here soon。〃
〃Pray； do not change your plans on my account。 I need not see any of your friends； I shall scarcely know they are here；〃 said Jane； with a deep sigh。
〃If it were possible to defer their visit； I should do so； but situated as we are with Mr。 Ellsworth〃 added Miss Wyllys。
〃Certainly； do not let me interfere with his coming。 I feel perfectly indifferent as to who comes or goes； I can never take any more pleasure in society！〃
〃Here is my aunt Wyllys driving up to the door；〃 said Elinor； who was sitting near a window。 〃Do you feel equal to seeing her？〃
〃Oh； no； not to…day； dear；〃 said Jane in an imploring voice； and Elinor accordingly remained with her cousin； while Miss Agnes went down to meet Mrs。 George Wyllys。 This lady was still living at Longbridge； although every few months she talked of leaving the place。 Her oldest boy had just received a midshipman's warrant； to which he was certainly justly entitledhis father having lost his life in the public service。 The rest of her children were at home； and rather spoilt and troublesome little people they were。
〃How is Jane？〃 asked Mrs。 Wyllys； as she entered the house。
〃Very sad and feeble； but I hope the air here will strengthen her； after a time。〃
〃Poor thing！no wonder she is sad； indeed！ So young； and such an affliction！ How is the child？〃
〃Much better； she is quite playful； and disturbs Jane very much by asking after her father。 What a warm drive you must have had； Harriet； you had better throw off your hat； and stay with us until evening。〃
〃Thank you； I must go home for dinner； and shall not be able to stay more than half an hour。 Is your father in？ I wished to see him； as well as yourself； on business。〃
〃No； he is not at home； he has gone off some miles； to look at some workmen who are putting up a new farm…house。〃
〃I am sorry he is not at home； for I want to ask his opinion。 And yet he must have his hands full just now； with that vexatious Stanley case。 I must say； I think Clapp deserves to be sent to the tread…mill！〃
〃Perhaps he does；〃 replied Miss Wyllys。 〃It is to be hoped at least； that he will receive what he deserves； and nothing more。〃
〃I hope he will； with all my heart！ But as I have not much time to spare； I must proceed to lay my affairs before you。 Now I really and honestly want your advice； Agnes。〃
〃You have had it often before；〃 replied Miss Wyllys； smiling。 〃I am quite at your service now；〃 she added； seeing her sister…in…law look a little uneasy。 Mrs。 Wyllys was silent for a moment。
〃I scarcely know where to begin；〃 she then said； 〃for here I am； come to consult you on a subject which you may think beneath your notice； you are superior to such trifling matters；〃 she said； smilingand then added： 〃But seriously； I have too much confidence in your judgment and good sense； to wish to act without your approbation。〃
〃What is the point upon which I am to decide？for you have not yet told me anything。〃
〃It is a subject upon which I have been thinking for some timeseveral months。 What should you say to my marrying again？〃 asked Mrs。 Wyllys stoutly。
Miss Agnes was amazed。 She had known her sister…in…law； when some years younger； refuse more than one good offer； and had never for a moment doubted her intention to remain a widow for life。
〃You surprise me； Harriet；〃 she said； 〃I had no idea you thought of marrying again。〃
〃Certainly； I never thought of taking such a step until quite lately。〃
〃And who is the gentleman？〃 asked Miss Agnes； in some anxiety。
〃I know you will at least agree with me； in thinking that I have made a prudent choice。 The welfare of my children is indeed my chief consideration。 I find； Agnes； that they require a stronger hand than mine to manage them。 Long before Evert went to sea； he was completely his own master； there were only two persons who had any influence over him； one is his grandfather； the other； a gentleman who will； I suppose； before long； become nearly connected with him。 I frankly acknowledge that I have no