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； however； regular reports of the proceedings by every mail； they had learned that the trial had closed； and were now waiting most anxiously for the final decision of the jury。
〃I had no idea the trial would last so long； had you？〃 observed Mary Van Alstyne； as the three friends were sitting together waiting for that day's mail； which must at length bring them the important news。
〃Yes； grandpapa told me that it might possibly last a week。〃
〃I don't see why they cannot decide it sooner；〃 said Jane； 〃anybody might know that sailor could not be William Stanley。 Poor Harry！ what trouble he has had with the man ever since he came home！〃
At that moment carriage…wheels were heard approaching； Elinor ran to the window。
〃They are coming！〃 she cried； and in another instant she was on the piazza； followed by Mary and Jane。 Two carriages were approaching the door。
〃Here they areall our friends！〃 exclaimed Mary Van Alstyne； as she recognized in the first open wagon Mr。 Wyllys and Ellsworth； and in the barouche behind； the ladies； including Mrs。 Creighton； while Harry himself sat at the side of the coachman。
Elinor was on the last step of the piazza； looking eagerly towards the faces of her friends as they advanced。
〃Grandpapa！〃 she exclaimed； looking all anxious curiosity； as the wagon stopped。
Mr。 Wyllys smiled； but not triumphantly。
Ellsworth shook his head as he sprang from the wagon and took her hand。
〃Can it be possible！Is the suit lost？〃 she again exclaimed。
〃Only too possible！〃 replied Mr。 Ellsworth。 〃The jury have given a verdict for the plaintiff； in spite of our best endeavours。〃
Elinor turned towards Harry； and offered him both her hands。 Hazlehurst received them with feeling； with emotion。
〃I can't acknowledge that I am such a poor forlorn fellow as one might fancy；〃 he said； smiling； 〃while I have still such kind and warm friends。〃
Elinor blushing to find herself between the two gentlemen； advanced to receive the kiss of her aunt and Mrs。 Stanley。 The countenance of the latter lady showed evident traces of the painful feelings she had experienced at the decision。 Mrs。 Creighton too looked a little disturbed； though graceful as ever in her manner； she was not easy； it was clear that she had been much disappointed by Harry's defeat。
〃I am grieved to hear the bad news； Mr。 Hazlehurst！〃 said Mary Van Alstyne。
〃Poor HarryI am so sorry for you！〃 exclaimed Jane； looking very lovely as she raised her eyes to her kinsman's face。
〃Ellsworth； can't you manage to lose all you are worth and a little more？〃 said Harry； smiling； after having thanked the ladies for their kind reception。
〃As I could not keep your property for you with the best will in the world； no doubt I could get rid of my own too；〃 replied his friend。
When the whole party assembled in the drawing…room； nothing was talked of for a while but the trial。 It appeared that the jury had been fifteen hours considering their verdict。 The doors of the court…room had been crowded by people curious to learn the decision of the case； and when the jury entered the court with their verdict there was a rush forward to hear it。
〃Verdict for the plaintiff〃 was announced by the clerk in a loud voice； in the usual official manner。
〃Clapp was standing near me at the moment；〃 said Harry； 〃there was a flash of triumph in his face as he turned towards me。 The sailor actually looked bewildered for an instant； but he soon appeared very well satisfied。 As for myself； I honestly declare that I expected such would be the result。〃
〃It was too late to write to you； my child；〃 said Mr。 Wyllys； 〃we only heard the verdict in time to prepare for leaving town in the morning's boat。 And now； Nelly； you must give us some consolation in the shape of a good dinner。〃
It was very evident that although everybody endeavoured to wear a cheerful face； the defeat had been much felt by Mrs。 Stanley； Mr。 Wyllys； and Ellsworth。 Hazlehurst himself really appeared better prepared for the misfortune than any of the party； in fact he conceived Mrs。 Stanley's position to be more painful than his own； though so much less critical in a pecuniary view。 Mrs。 Creighton was certainly neither so gay； nor so easy as usual in her manner； one might have fancied that she felt herself in an unpleasant and rather an awkward positiona very unusual thing for that lady。 It might have struck an observer that she wished to appear as amiable as ever to Harry； but she did not succeed entirely in concealing that her interest in him was materially diminished； now that he was no longer Mr。 Stanley's heir。 It was only by trifling shades of manner； however； that this was betrayed； perhaps no one of the circle at Wyllys…Roof remarked it； perhaps it was not lost upon Hazlehurst； there seemed to be an occasional expression in his eye which said so。
After the party had separated to prepare for dinner； Elinor joined her aunt； and learned many farther particulars of the trial。
〃Is there no hope； Aunt？can nothing be doneno new trial？〃
〃I am afraid not。 The gentlemen are to hold several consultations on that point； however； but they seem to agree that little can be done。 Both your grandfather and Harry were determined to go on if there were the least probability of success； but Mr。 Grant； Mr。 Ellsworth； and several other gentlemen say they can give them no grounds for encouragement； the trial was perfectly regular； and they think an appeal for a new trial would be rejected； and even if it were granted； they see no reason to hope for a different verdict。〃
〃And yet there cannot be a doubt； Aunt； to us at least； that this man is an impostor！〃 exclaimed Elinor。
〃No； not to us certainly； but it was not possible to place the proofs of this as clearly before the court as they have appeared to us。 Harry says he was afraid from the beginning that this would be the case。〃
〃How well he bears it！〃 exclaimed Elinor。 〃And Mrs。 Stanley； she can scarcely speak on the subject！〃
〃She feels it most keenly。 Would you believe it； my child； when we arrived on board the boat this morning； we found Mr。 Clapp and this man already there； and at a moment when Mrs。 Stanley and I were sitting alone together； the gentlemen having left us； and Mrs。 Creighton being with another party； they came and walked up and down before us。 Mr。 Clapp took off his hat； and running his hand through his hair； as he does so often； he said in a loud voice： 〃Well； Mr。 Stanley； when do you go to Greatwood？〃 Happily； Harry saw us from the other side of the deck； and he instantly joined us。 Of course we did not mention to him what had passed； and although Mr。 Clapp was noisy and vulgar； yet he did not come so near us again。〃
〃What a miserable man he is！〃 exclaimed Elinor。 〃And is it possible that sailor is going to take possession of my uncle Stanley's house immediately？〃
〃I do not know； my child。 Everything has been left in the hands of Robert Hazlehurst and Mr。 Grant； by our friends。〃
Already had Elinor's mind been busy with planning relief for Hazlehurst； if he were now worse than penniless； she was richit would be in her power to assist him。 The point itself had been long since settled by her； but the manner in which it was to be done was now to be considered。 She was determined at least that her old playfellow should have the use of any sum he might require； under the circumstances that would be the easiest and most acceptable to himself。 Her grandfather must make the offer； they would either wait until he returned from the cruise in the Petrel； or possibly it would be better to write to him while absent。
Elinor had； perhaps； been more disappointed by the verdict than any one； for she had been very sanguine as to the result； she had not conceived it possible that such gross injustice could triumph。
But； alas； how imperfect is merely human justice in its best form！ It is a humiliating reflection for the human race； that Justice； one of the highest attributes of Truth； should have so little power among men； that when guided by human reason alone she should so often err！
To guard faithfully the general purity of Justice； to watch that her arm is neither crippled by violence nor palsied by fear； that her hands