"Why, my dear, his habits have been unhappily very bad in every way for years; they were, indeed the cause of his first leaving his family. He hated everything like restraint--even the common restraints of society, and cared for nothing but a sailor's life, and that in the worst shape, it must be confessed. But he has now grown wiser--he has determined to reform. You observed he signed the temperance pledge this evening?"
"It all sounds so strangely, that I cannot yet believe it, William."
"I dare say not--it took me four years to believe it."
"But what do you mean to do? I hope you are not going to undertake a law-suit against two of our best friends, Mr. Wyllys and Mr. Hazlehurst?"
"That must depend on Mr. Wyllys and Mr. Hazlehurst, themselves. I have undertaken, Catherine, to do my best towards restoring this injured man to his property."
"Oh, William; suppose this man is in the wrong, after all! Don't think of having anything to do with him."
"My dear, you talk like a woman--you don't know what you say. If I don't act in the premises, do you suppose he won't find another lawyer to undertake his cause?"
"Let him have another, then: but it seems too bad that we should take sides against our best friends; it hardly seems honourable, William, to do so."
"Honour, alone, won't make a young lawyer's pot boil, I can tell you."
"But I had rather live poorly, and work hard all my life, than that you should undertake a dishonest cause."
"It is all very pretty talking, but I have no mind to live poorly; I intend to live as well as I can, and I don't look upon this Stanley cause as a bad one at all. I must say, Catherine, you are rather hard upon your husband, and seem to think more of the interests of your friends, than of his own."
"How can you talk so, William, when you know you can't think it," said the wife reproachfully, tears springing to her eyes.
"Well, I only judge from what you say yourself. But in my opinion there is no danger of a law-suit. As Mr. Stanley's agent, I shall first apply to Mrs. Stanley and Mr. Hazlehurst to acknowledge his claim; and when the evidence is laid before them, I have no kind of doubt but they will immediately give up the property; as they are some of your very honourable people, I must say I think they are bound to do so."
"Certainly, if the evidence is so clear; but it seems to me, from all I have heard since I have been a lawyer's wife, that evidence never is so very clear, William, but that people disagree about it."
"Well, I flatter myself that people will be staggered by the proofs we can bring forward; I feel sure of public opinion, at least."
Kate was silenced; but though she could think of nothing more to urge, she was very far from feeling easy on the subject.
"I hope with all my heart it will be settled amicably," she added at length.
"There is every probability that it will. Though the story sounds so strangely to you now--just as it did to me, at first--yet when you come to hear all the facts, you will find there is scarcely room for a shadow of doubt."
"How sorry mother and Patsey will be when they hear it!"
"I can't see why they should be sorry to see a man reinstated in his rights, after having been deprived of them for eighteen years. If they are not blinded by their partiality for the Wyllyses and Hazlehursts, they cannot help being convinced by the evidence we can show."
"How old is this man--this sailor--this Mr. Stanley?"
"Just thirty-six, he tells me. Did you remark his likeness to Mr. Stanley's portrait at Wyllys-Roof? that was the first thing that struck me."
"No; I hardly looked at him."
"You must expect to see him often now; I have invited him to dinner for to-morrow."
"For to-morrow? Well, Uncle Dozie has sent me this afternoon a beautiful mess of green peas, and you will have to get something nice from market, in the way of poultry and fish. Though, I suppose as he has been a common sailor so long, he won't be very particular about his dinner."
"He knows what is good, I can tell you. You must give him such a dinner as he would have had at his father's in old times."
"Well, just as you please, William; only, if you really care for me, do not let the man deceive you; be sure you sift the matter thoroughly--what you call cross-examine him."
"Never you fear; I know what I am about, Katie; though if I was to follow your advice in law matters, I reckon we should all of us starve together."
"I hope it will all turn out well, but I seem to feel badly about it," said Kate with a sigh, as she rose to light a candle; "only don't be too hasty--take time."
"We have taken time enough I think, as it is. We are only waiting now for Mr. Hazlehurst to arrive in Philadelphia, when we shall put forward our claim."
