"Now, Mr. Hazlehurst, come here and tell me all about these vexatious proceedings," said Mrs. Creighton to Harry, as the whole party left the dining-room for the piazza, the day Mr. Ellsworth and his sister arrived at Wyllys-Roof. "I hope you and Frank found out, in that long consultation you had this morning, that it would not be difficult to settle the matter as it ought to be settled?"
"On the contrary, we agreed that there were a great many serious difficulties before us."
"You don't surely think there is any real danger as to the result?" asked the lady with great interest. "You cannot suppose that this man is really William Stanley, come to life again!"
"No; I believe him to be an impostor; and so does Ellsworth--so do we all; but he makes out quite a plausible story, nevertheless."
"But what are you going to do? Come, sit down here, and tell me about it."
"You forget, Josephine," said Mr. Ellsworth, smiling, "that we lawyers dare not trust the ladies with our secrets; you must contrive to restrain your curiosity, or interest--whichever you choose to call it--until the trial."
"Nonsense!--I am quite too much interested for that; I shall expect to hear a great deal before the trial. Is it possible your stock of patience will last till then, Miss Wyllys?" added the lady, turning to Elinor.
"Well, I don't know; I confess myself very anxious as to the result," said Elinor, blushing a little.
"To be sure; we are all anxious; and I expect to be taken into your confidence, Mr. Hazlehurst, quite as far as you legal gentlemen think it safe to admit a lady. Frank has a very bad habit of never trusting me with his business matters, Miss Wyllys; we must cure him of that."
"I am inclined to think, Mrs. Creighton, your patience would scarcely hear the recital of even one case of Richard Roe versus John Doe," said Mr. Wyllys.
"Perhaps not; for I care not a straw for Richard Roe, or John Doe, either."
"Would you really like to see the account which this newcomer gives of himself?" asked Hazlehurst.
"Certainly; I speak seriously, I assure you."
"You shall see it this evening," said Harry. "I think you will agree with me, that it is a strange story."
"But, Mrs. Creighton," said Mr. Wyllys, "we have had our heads so full of law, and conspiracies, and impostors, lately, that I was in hopes you would bring us something more agreeable to think and talk about. What were the people doing at Nahant when you left there?"
"It was very dull there; at least I thought so; I was in a great hurry for Frank to bring me away."
"What was wanting, pray?" asked Mr. Wyllys. "Was it the fault of the weather, the water, or the company?"
"Of all together, sir; nothing was of the right kind; it was not half so pleasant as Saratoga this year. Even the flirtations were not as amusing as usual."
"I should have thought you might have been amused in some other way," said Mr. Ellsworth.
"Flirtation, I would have you believe, my good brother, is sometimes quite an agreeable and exciting pastime."
"Faute de mieux," said Harry, smiling.
{"faute de mieux" = for want of anything better (French)}
"You surprise me, Josephine, by saying so, as you are no flirt yourself," observed her brother, with a perfectly honest and natural expression.
"Well, I don't know; certainly I never flirt intentionally; but I won't be sure my spirits have not carried me away sometimes. Have you never, Miss Wyllys, in moments of gaiety or excitement, said more than you intended to?"
"Have I never flirted, do you mean?" asked Elinor, smiling.
"But though you say it yourself, I don't believe you are a bit of a flirt, Mrs. Creighton," said the unsuspicious Mr. Wyllys.
"Oh, no, sir; I would not have you believe me a regular flirt for the world. I only acknowledge to a little trifling, now and then.
Miss Wyllys knows what I mean; we women are more observant of each other. Now, haven't you suspected me of flirting more than once?"
"You had better ask me," said Mary Van Alstyne; "Elinor is not half suspicious enough."
"The acquittal of the gentlemen ought to satisfy you," said Elinor. "They are supposed to be the best judges. Are you sure, however, that you did not flirt with Mr. Hopkins?--he was at Nahant with you, I believe."
"I am afraid it surpasses the power of woman to distract Mr. Hopkins's attention from a sheepshead or a paugee."
{"sheepshead" and "paugee" (porgy) = names applied to a number of American fish esteemed by anglers}
"You have really a very pretty view here, Miss Wyllys, although there is nothing bold or commanding in the country; it makes a very pleasant home picture," observed Mr. Ellsworth, who had been looking about him. "That reach in the river has a very good effect; the little hamlet, too, looks well in the distance; and the wood and meadow opposite, are as well placed as one could wish."
"I am glad you like it; but we really think that, for such simple scenery, it is uncommonly pretty," replied Elinor.
"Yes; even your fastidious friend, Mr. Stryker, pronounced the landscape about Wyllys-Roof to be very well put together," said Mrs. Creighton.
"Mr. Stryker, however, professes to have no eye for anything of the kind," replied Elinor.
"That is only one of the man's affectations; his eyes are more like those of other people than he is willing to confess. Though Mr. Stryker pretends to be one of your men of the world, whose notions are all practical, yet one soon discovers that he cherishes his useless foibles, like other people," said the lady, with an air of careless frankness; though intending the speech for the benefit of Hazlehurst and Mr. Wyllys, who both stood near her.
"Perhaps you don't know that Mr. Stryker has preceded you into our neighbourhood," said Mary Van Alstyne. "He is staying at Mr. de Vaux's."
"Oh, yes; I knew he was to be here about these times. Pray, tell me which is Mr. de Vaux's place. It is a fine house, I am told."
"A great deal too fine," said Harry. "It is all finery, or rather it was a few years since."
