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〃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 street。 Now； what stronger evidence could we have？ A slender lad of seventeen may become a heavy； corpulent man of forty； but to change the formation of hands； fingers； and nails； is beyond the reach of even Clapp's cunning。 We are much obliged to the artist； for his accuracy in representing the hands of the boy exactly as they were。 This testimony I look upon as quite conclusive。 As to the Rev。 Mr。 G…； whose pupil young Stanley was for several years； we find that he is no longer living； but I have obtained the names of several of the young's man's companions； who will be able to confirm the fact of his dullness； several of the professors at the University are also living； and will no doubt be able to assist us。 I have written a dozen letters on these points； but received no answers as yet。 So far so good； we shall succeed； I trust。 Mr。 Wyllys bids you not forget to find out if Clapp has really been at Greatwood； as we suspected。 The ladies send you many kind and encouraging messages。 Josephine； as usual； sympathizes in all our movements。 She says： 'Give Mr。 Hazlehurst all sorts of kind greetings from me； anything you please short of my love； which would not be proper； I suppose。' I had a charming row on the river last evening； with the ladies。 I never managed a law…suit in such agreeable quarters before。
〃Faithfully yours；
〃F。 E。〃
CHAPTER XVII。 ｛XL｝
〃What say you； can you love this gentleman？〃 Romeo and Juliet。
｛William Shakespeare； 〃Romeo and Juliet〃； I。iii。79｝
JANE'S strength and spirits were gradually improving。 She had been persuaded to take a daily airing and had consented to see one or two of the ladies in her room。 Mr。 Wyllys always passed half an hour with her； every afternoon； and at length she came down stairs； and joined the family in the drawing…room； for a short time in the evening。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Robert Hazlehurst； who came from Philadelphia to pass a day or two with her； found her much better than they had expected。
Charlie Hubbard returned to the grey cottage； with his portfolio full of sketches； intending to pass several months at home； in finishing his pictures of Lake George； the school…room having been converted into a painting…room for his use。 Miss Patsey's little flock were dispersed for a time； and Charlie was even in hopes of persuading his mother and sister to accompany him to New York； where Mary Hubbard； the youngest sister； was now engaged in giving music lessons。 He felt himself quite a rich man； and drew up a plausible plan for hiring a small house in some cheap situation； where they might all live together； but Miss Patsey shook her head； she thought they could not afford it。 Still； it was delightful to her； to listen to plans devised by Charlie's warm heart； she seemed to love him more than ever； since he had even sacrificed his moustaches to his mother's prejudice against such foreign fashions。
〃Keep your money； Charles； we can make out very well in the old cottage； more comfortably than we have ever done before。 You will want all you can make one of these days； when you marry；〃 said Miss Patsey。
To her surprise； Charlie showed some emotion at this allusion to his marrying； and remained perfectly silent for an instant； instead of giving the playful answer that his sister had expected to hear。
Mrs。 Hubbard then observed； that she should not wish to move； she hoped to end her life in the old grey cottage。 They had lived so long in the neighbourhood of Longbridge； that a new place would not seem like home to Patsey and herself。 Charlie must come to see them as often as he could； perhaps he would be able to spend his summers there。
〃Well； we shall see； mother； at any rate； Mary and I together； we shall be able to make your life easy； I trust。〃
Mrs。 Hubbard observed； that although they had been poor for the last seventeen years； yet they had never really seemed to feel the weight of poverty； they had met with so much kindness； from so many relations and friends。
〃But kindness from our own children； mother； is the most blessed of all；〃 said Patsey。
Charlie did not give up his plan； however； but he forbore to press it for the present； as he was engaged to drive his sister； Mrs。 Clapp； to her own house at Longbridge。 Hubbard had kept aloof from his brother…in…law whenever he could； since the Stanley suit had been commenced； any allusion to this affair was painful to him； he had never respected Mr。 Clapp； and now strongly suspected him of unfair dealing。 He pitied his sister Kate from the bottom of his heart； but it seemed pity quite thrown away。 To judge from her conversation； as Charlie was driving her home； she had implicit confidence in her husband； if she had at first doubted the identity of the sailor； she had never for a second supposed； that William himself was not firmly convinced of it。 On the other hand； she began to have some misgivings as to the character and integrity of Mr。 Wyllys； whom hitherto； all her life long； she had been used to consider as the model of a gentleman； and an upright man。 She soon