elinor wyllys-2-第33章

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dining…room；　he　paid　no　attention　to　her　as　she　opened　the　door；　but　continued　walking　up　and　down。　She　scarcely　knew　how　to　address　him；　the　common　phrases　of　greeting　that　rose　to　her　lips　seemed　misplaced。　He　either　did　not　see　her；　or　would　not　notice　her。　She　then　walked　quite　near　to　him；　and　holding　out　her　hand；　said　in　a　calm　tone：

〃Uncle；　I　have　come　to　see　Julianna。〃

The　muscles　of　his　face　moved；　but　he　made　no　answer。

〃I　have　come　to　stay　with　her；　if　you　wish　it。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　in　a　thick　voice。

〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do　for　you？〃

〃What　can　be　done？〃　he　said；　bitterly；　and　almost　roughly。

〃Do　you　wish　me　to　stay？〃

〃Yes；　I　am　obliged　to　you　for　coming　to　see　a　woman　of　bad　reputation。〃

Patsey　left　him　for　the　present。　She　found　her　cousins　together；　Emmeline's　eyes　were　red；　as　if　she　had　just　been　weeping；　Mrs。　Hilson　was　stretched　on　a　sofa；　in　a　very　elegant　morning…gown；　reading　a　novel　of　very　doubtful　morality。　Patsey　offered　her　hand；　which　was　taken　quite　cavalierly。

〃Well；　Patsey；〃　she　said；　〃I　hope　you　have　not　come　to　be　a　spy　upon　me。〃

〃I　have　come　to　see　you；　because　I　wish　to　be　of　service　to　you；　Julianna。〃

〃Then；　my　dear　child；　you　must　bring　his　High…Mightiness；　my　jealous　husband　to　reason；〃　said　the　lady；　smoothing　a　fold　in　her　dress。　Patsey　made　no　answer；　and　Mrs。　Hilson　looked　up。　〃If　you　are　going　to　join　the　rest　of　them　against　me；　why　I　shall　have　nothing　to　do　with　you；　all　the　prim　prudes　in　the　world　won't　subdue　me；　as　my　good…man　might　have　found　out　already。〃

〃Where　is　your　husband？〃　asked　Miss　Patsey；　gravely；　but　quietly。

〃I　am　sure　I　don't　know；　he　has　been　pleased　to　abandon　me；　for　no　reason　whatever；　but　because　I　chose　to　enjoy　the　liberty　of　all　women　of　fortune　in　aristocratic　circles。　I　would　not　submit　to　be　made　a　slave；　like　most　ladies　in　this　country；　as　Mrs。　Bagman　says。　I　choose　to　associate　with　whom　I　please；　gentlemen　or　ladies。　What　is　it　makes　the　patrician　orders　so　delightful　in　Europe？all　those　who　know　anything　about　it；　will　tell　you　that　it　is　because　the　married　women　are　not　slaves；　they　have　full　liberty；　and　do　just　as　they　fancy；　and　have　as　many　admirers　as　they　please；　this　very　book　that　I　am　reading　says　so。　That　is　the　way　things　are　managed　in　high　life　in　Europe。〃

〃What　sort　of　liberty　is　it　you　wish　for；　Julianna？　The　liberty　to　do　wrong？　Or　the　liberty　to　trifle　with　your　reputation？〃

Mrs。　Hilson　pouted；　but　made　no　answer。

〃I　cannot　think　the　kind　of　liberty　you　speak　of　is　common　among　good　women　anywhere；〃　continued　Patsey；　〃and　I　don't　think　you　can　know　so　much　about　what　you　call　HIGH　LIFE　in　Europe；　Julianna；　for　you　have　never　been　there。　I　am　sure　at　least；　that　in　this　country　the　sort　of　liberty　you　seem　to　be　talking　about；　is　only　common　in　very　LOW　LIFE；　you　will　find　enough　of　it　even　here；　among　the　most　ignorant　and　worst　sort　of　people；〃　said　Miss　Patsey；　quietly。

Mrs。　Hilson　looked　provoked。　〃Well；　you　are　civil；　I　must　say；　Miss　Patsey　Hubbard；　of　all　the　brutal　speeches　that　have　been　made　me　of　late；　I　must　say　that　yours　is　the　worst！〃

〃I　speak　the　truth；　though　I　speak　plainly；　Julianna。〃

〃Yes　plainly　enough；　very　different　from　the　refinement　of　Mrs。　Bagman；　I　can　assure　you；　she　would　be　the　last　person　to　come　and　tyrannize　over　me；　when　I　am　a　victim　to　my　husband's　jealousy。　But　I　have　not　a　creature　near　me　to　sympathize　with　me！〃

〃Do　not　say　that；　your　father　is　down…stairs；　grown　old　with　grief　during　the　last　week！〃

Mrs。　Hilson　did　not　answer。

〃You　have　known　me　all　your　life；　from　the　time　you　were　a　child；〃　added　Miss　Patsey；　taking　her　cousin's　passive　hand　in　her　own；　〃and　I　ask；　if　you　have　ever　known　me　to　deceive　you　by　an　untruth？〃

〃I　am　sure　I　don't　know；〃　replied　her　cousin；　carelessly。

〃Yes；　you　do　know　it；　Julianna。　Trust　me；　then；　do　not　shut　your　ears　and　your　eyes　to　the　truth！　You　are　in　a　very　dangerous　situation；　look　upon　me　as　your　friend；　let　me　stay　with　you；　let　me　help　you！　My　only　motive　is　your　own　good；　even　if　I　believed　you　really　guilty；　I　should　have　come　to　you；　but　I　do　not　believe　you　guilty！〃

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you；〃　said　her　cousin；　lightly。　〃But　I　happen　to　know　myself　that　I　have　committed　no　such　high　crime　and　misdemeanour。〃

〃Yes；　you　have　trifled　so　far　with　your　reputation；　that　the　world　believes　you　guilty；　Julianna。〃

〃Not　fashionable　people。　I　might　have　gone　on　for　years；　enjoying　the　friendship　of　an　elegant　lady　like　Mrs。　Bagman；　and　receiving　the　polite　attentions　of　a　French　nobleman；　had　it　not　been　for　the　countrified　notions　of　Pa　and　Mr。　Hilson；　and　now；　I　am　torn　from　my　friends；　I　am　calumniated；　and　the　Baron　accused　of　being　an　impostor！　But　the　fact　is；　as　Mrs。　Bagman　says；　Mr。　Hilson　never　has　understood　me！〃

Patsey　closed　her　eyes　that　night　with　a　heavy　heart。　She　did　not　seem　to　have　produced　the　least　impression　on　Mrs。　Hilson。

How　few　people　are　aware　of　the　great　dangers　of　that　common　foible；　vanity！　And　yet　it　is　the　light　feather　that　wings　many　a　poisoned　dart；　it　is　the　harlequin　leader　of　a　vile　crew　of　evils。　Generally；　vanity　is　looked　upon　as　merely　a　harmless　weakness；　whose　only　penalty　is　ridicule；　but　examine　its　true　character；　and　you　will　find　it　to　be　one　of　the　most　dangerous；　and　at　the　same　time　one　of　the　most　contemptible　failings　of　humanity。　There　is　not　a　vice　with　which　it　has　not　been；　time　and　again；　connected；　there　is　not　a　virtue　that　has　not　been　tainted　by　its　touch。　Men　are　vain　of　their　vices；　vain　of　their　virtues；　and　although　pride　and　vanity　have　been　declared　incompatible；　probably　there　never　lived　a　proud　man；　who　was　not　vain　of　his　very　pride。　A　generous　aspect　is；　however；　sometimes　assumed　by　pride；　but　vanity　is　inalterably　contemptible　in　its　selfish　littleness；　its　restless　greediness。　Who　shall　tell　its　victimswho　shall　set　bounds　to　its　triumphs？　Reason　is　more　easily　blinded　by　vanity　than　by　sophistry；　time　and　again　has　vanity　misdirected　feeling；　often　has　vanity　roused　the　most　violent　passions。　Many　have　been　enticed　on　to　ruin；　step　by　step；　with　the　restless　lure　of　vanity；　until　they　became　actually　guilty　of　crimes；　attributed　to　some　more　sudden；　and　stronger　impulse。　How　many　people　run　into　extravagance；　and　waste　their　means；　merely　from　vanity！　How　many　young　men　commence　a　career　of　folly　and　wickedness；　impelled　by　the　miserable　vanity　of　daring　what　others　dare！　How　many　women　have　trifled　with　their　own　peace；　their　own　reputation；　merely　because　vanity　led　them　to　receive　the　first　treacherous　homage　of　criminal　admiration；　when　whispered　in　the　tones　of　false　sentiment　and　flattery！　The　triumphs　of　vanity　would　form　a　melancholy　picture；　indeed；　but　it　is　one　the　world　will　never　pause　to　look　at。

The　eldest　daughter　of　Mr。　Hubbard；　the　worthy　Longbridge　merchant；　without　strong　passions；　without　strong　temptations；　was　completely　the　victim　of　puerile　vanity。　The　details　of　her　folly　are　too　unpleasant　to　dwell　on；　but　the　silly　ambition　of　playing　the　fine　lady；　after　the　pattern　of　certain　European　novels；　themselves　chiefly　representing　the　worst　members　of　the　class　they　claim　to　depict；　was　the　cause　of　her　ruin。　She　had　so　recklessly　trifled　with　her　reputation；　that　although　her　immediate　friends　did　not　believe　the　worst；　yet　with　the　world　her　character　was　irretrievably　lost。　At　five…and…twenty　she　had　already　sacrificed　her　own　peace；　she　had　brought　shame　on　her　husband's　name；　and　had　filled　with　the　bitterest　grief；　the　heart　of　an　indulgent　father。　Happily；　her　mother　was　in　the　grave；　and　she　had　no　children　to　injure　by　her　misconduct。

Patsey　Hubbard　continued　unwearied　in　her　kind　endeavours　to　be　of　service　to　her　kinswoman；　anxious　to　awaken　her　to　a　sense　of　her　folly；　and　to　withdraw　her　from　the　influence　of　bad　associates。

〃It　is　right　that　society　should　discountenance　a　woman　who　behaves　as　Julianna　has　done；〃　said　she　one　day；　to　Mrs。　Hubbard；　on　returning　home；　〃but；　oh；　mother；　her　own　family　surely；　should　never　give　her　up　while　there　is　breath　in　her　body！〃



CHAPTER　XVI。　｛XXXIX｝

〃That　which　you　hear；　you'll　swear　you　see；　There　is　such　unity　in　the　proofs。〃　Winter's　Tale。

｛William　Shakespeare；　〃A　Winter's　Tale〃；　V。ii。31…32｝

WHEN　Hazlehurst　arrived　at　the　little　village　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Greatwood；　he　was　so　fortunate　as　to　find　that　many　persons　among　the　older　members　of　the　community；　had　a　perfect　recollection　of　William　Stanley；　and　were　ready　to　testify；　to　the　best　of　their　knowledge；　as　to　any　particulars　that　might　be　of　service　in　the　case。

His　first　inquiry　was；　for　the　young　man's　nurse。　He　discovered　that　she　had　recently　removed　into　a　neighbouring　state；　with　the　son；　in　whose　family　she　had　lived　since　leaving　the　Stanleys。　As　soon　as　Harry　had　accompanied　Mrs。　Stanley　to　Greatwood；　he　set　out　in　pursuit　of　this　person；　from　whom　he　hoped　to　obtain　important　evidence。　On　arriving　at　the　place　where　she　was　now　to　be　found；　he　was　much　disappointed；　for　her　faculties　had　been　so　much　impaired　by　a　severe　attack　of　paralysis；　that　he　could　learn　but　little　from　her。　She　seemed　to　have　cherished　a　warm　affection　for　the　memory　of　William　Stanley；　whose　loss　at　sea　she　had　never　doubted。　Whenever　his　name　was　mentioned　she　wept；　and　she　spoke　with　feeling　and　respect　of　the　young　man's　parents。　But　her　mind　was　much　confused；　and　it　was　impossible　to　make　any　use　of　her　testimony　in　a　court　of　justice。

Thus　thrown　back　upon　those　who　had　a　less　intimate　personal　knowledge　of　the　young　man；　Harry　pursued　his　inquiries　among　the　families　about　Greatwood；　and　the　village　of　Franklin　Cross…Roads。　With　the　exception　of　a　few　newcomers；　and　those　who　were　too　young　to　recollect　eighteen　years　back；　almost　everybody　in　the　neighbourhood　had　had　some　acquaintance　with　William　Stanley。　He　had　been　to　school　with　this　one；　he　had　sat　in　church；　in　the　pew　next　to　that　family；　he　had　been　the　constant　playfellow　of　A…；　and　he　had　drawn　B…　into　more　than　one　scrape。　Numerous　stories　sprang　up　right　and　left；　as　to　his　doings　when　a　boy；　old　scenes　were　acted　over　again；　and　past　events；　mere　trifles　perhaps　at　the　time；　but　gaining　importance　from　the　actual　state　of　things；　were　daily　brought　to　light；　there　seemed　no　lack　of　information　connected　with　the　subject。

We　must　observe；　however；　before　we　proceed　farther；　that　Hazlehurst　had　no　sooner　arrived　at　Greatwood；　than　he　went　to　look　after　the　set　of　the　Spectator；　to　which　the　volume　produced　at　the　interview　had　belonged。　He　found　the　books　in　their　usual　place　on　an　upper　shelf；　with　others　seldom　used；　every　volume　had　the　double　names　of　Mr。　Stanley　and　his　son；　but　the　set　was　not　complete；　there　was　not　only　one　volume　missing；　but　two　were　wanting！　Hazlehurst　sprang　from　the　steps　on　which　he　was　standing；　when　he　made　this　discovery；　and　went　immediately　in　pursuit　of　Mrs。　Stanley；　to　inquire　if　she　knew　which　volume　was　originally　missing。　She　could　not　be　sure；　but　she　believed　it　was　the　eighth。　Such　was　the　fact；　the　eighth　volume　was　not　in　its　place；　neither　was　the　sixth；　that　which　Mr。　Clapp　had　in　his　possession；　yet　Mrs。　Stanley　was　convinced；　tha