Lovers and Husbands CHAPTER 9.
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Flora would have stayed all night with Mrs. Harper and Anne, but for the fact that she wished to get Mr. Garnett's opinion of the case, which she hoped to do in the evening. She therefore left her friends and returned to Mrs. Whitney, with whom she stayed; but, what was very unusual, Mr. Garnett did not come. Most of the next day, which was the one preceding the trial, she spent at Mrs. Harper's. She found less composure in the minds of her friends than before. Still, they were struggling hard to be calm, and willing that all should be taken from them, if such were to be the result. Both Mrs. Harper and her daughter intended being present to hear the evidence brought forward against the validity of their title, and also to observe the progress of the trial.
As evening approached, Flora, anxious to see Mr. Garnett, returned home, promising to call in again early in the morning and see them before they went to the courthouse. Shortly after tea, Mr. Garnett dropped in at Mr. Whitney's.
"We didn't see you last evening," Emily said.
"No," replied Garnett; "an important suit that comes on tomorrow has occupied much of my attention for some days past. Matters appertaining to this suit kept me in my office until a late hour. I have only now dropped in for a few minutes just to greet you."
"You will spend the evening, of course," Whitney said.
"No, that is impossible — and yet discharge my duty to my client. Business first — then pleasure."
"What suit is it?" asked Whitney.
"It is one of Hartzog's tough cases. I have managed two or three for him successfully; but this one will test my mettle, as they say."
"Hartzog's. The heartless old skin-flint! I wonder you would touch one of his suits, for success must inevitably wrong someone."
"We lawyers have nothing to do with that. To us a client's cause, good or bad, must be gained, if possible. This is but simple justice to him. Besides, as regards Hartzog, the very hardness of all his cases spurs a young lawyer to do his very best. If he can gain over an opponent who has justice as well as the sympathies of the court in his favor — he must do it by superior skill and talents. Every successful termination of a bad cause in a lawyer's hands — is so much added to his reputation, and is worth a dozen good causes, that are gained by their own intrinsic merit more than by the skill of their advocate."
Such sentiments, Flora had never before heard from the lips of Mr. Garnett. They shocked her greatly. Emily, who knew well how her friend would regard the declaration just made, trembled for the consequences. To her mind, they constituted no objections to him; but she had good cause to fear that Flora would so regard them. For this reason, as Flora said nothing by way of controverting what had been uttered, Emily remarked, addressing Mr. Garnett, and smiling as she spoke,
"Of course, this is only a pleasant charade. You would not undertake a bad cause — if you knew it to be so."
"On the contrary," returned Garnett, promptly. "This very cause, that I hope to gain tomorrow, is an exceedingly bad one. Hartzog has no just claim to the property in suit. It was bought from his father, and honestly paid for; but he has discovered a flaw in the title, and upon that, hopes to recover what he has no right to whatever."
"And you wish to gain it for him?" Flora said, in a firm voice, looking into Garnett's face as she spoke.
"I certainly do, and will gain it, if possible. That is my duty to my client."
"No matter who is wronged?"
"With that, I have nothing to do. The court is accountable for injustice — not the lawyer."
Flora said no more, and Emily, seeking to change the conversation, introduced another topic. Garnett remained for an hour, and then went away. During the time, Flora made no remark except in answer to such as were addressed to her — but she was thoughtful. After Garnett had retired, she excused herself and went up to her room. A new light had broken in upon her mind. She had heard enough to satisfy her that the suit which Garnett was about to prosecute, was against Mrs. Harper! This was as unexpected as it was startling. Could it be possible, she asked herself, with painful resolution, that one who had so deeply interested her — one to whom her hand, if asked, would have been yielded with little hesitation — could enter the ranks of the oppressor, and willfully seek to wrest from the widow and orphan — their all of worldly possessions? and this, too, in order that his own reputation as a sharp lawyer might stand out in bolder relief? She shuddered as she replied to her own question, "Yes, alas! it is too possible!"
It was a late hour when she retired to rest. The time was spent in close self-examination. She had striven to read aright her own heart, and also to compare the real admiration she felt for Garnett — with all she had previously known of his character, to see if the former were a healthy consequence of the latter. The result, she was forced to acknowledge, proved her to have yielded more to the fascinations of his person — than to the more genuine attractions of sound moral qualities. This discovery, made under such peculiar circumstances, was not merely glanced at and then turned from — but it was kept resolutely before her mind's eye, while her reason rebuked her for having allowed herself to be deceived as she had been by a mere specious exterior.
In the morning, immediately after breakfast, she went over to Mrs. Harper's, and, unexpectedly to both Mrs. Harper and her daughter, declared her intention of accompanying them to the courtroom. In order to avoid being unpleasantly noticed there, she had dressed herself as plainly as possible, and came with a closed veil. A male friend of Mrs. Harper's accompanied them, and saw that they were provided with good places. At ten o'clock, precisely, the trial began. Unseen by Garnett, who had not the remotest idea of her presence, and, therefore, remained unaffected by it in any way, Flora could now observe him under new, and, for a correct formation of an opinion in regard to him, most advantageous circumstances. To do this, she had ventured into a place so uncongenial to her feelings, and so inappropriate to her gender. She had resolved to do both him and herself full justice.
The manner in which the case was opened by Garnett, before any testimony was brought forward to substantiate the claim set up, shocked Flora's mind as much as the declarations he had made on the previous evening. In this opening there was a levity in his manner of treating the defendants, and a covert insinuation throughout of fraud on the part of Mr. Harper in his purchase of the property — which made her cheeks burn with indignation. But after all the evidence had been laid before the court, and he then went on to advocate the claim of Hartzog, there was an ingenuousness, plausibility, tact, and force about his positions and arguments, that, while it half convinced even Flora herself — made her cheeks, that a short time before burned, now pale with anxiety.
She had never before seen him out of the social circle — she had never before seen his mind under the excitement of any strong impulse. Now she listened to his powerful eloquence in wonder and fear — wonder at his masterly command of ideas, arguments, and language, even in a bad cause; and fear, lest he should use his talents too successfully. Acutely did she follow him throughout the whole course of his speech, marking here his sophistry, there his ungenerous and untrue allusions to the defense — and again, at his too palpable efforts to mislead the opinion of the court. When he gave to the counsel for Mrs. Harper the floor, her heart trembled for the result. But soon the power, the force, the beauty, and eloquence of truth, as it was presented, calmly, clearly, and in just connection — cheered her heart with the prospect of justice. The unfairness of Garnett's argument was exhibited in a few words — and the subtlety with which he had attempted to mislead, was exposed. Then the firm basis upon which the title of the property rested, was shown with daylight clearness.
In reply to this, Garnett, evidently discomfited, tried to rally and rearrange his forces — but the attempt was a poor one. They were all scattered again by a few words from the counsel on the side of the defense. The case finally closed, and the court gave notice that its opinion would be declared on the next day at ten o'clock. There were doubts in the minds of but few as to the nature of the decision; those doubts were with the parties most interested.
That night was spent by Flora at Mrs. Harper's. Garnett called in, as usual, to see her at Whitney's, and was much disappointed at not finding her there. He stayed until near ten o'clock, and then retired; not in a very satisfied state of mind, for Emily had intimated to him the possibility of Flora's finding an objection to him in the sentiments he had imprudently uttered on the evening before.
Morning came, and found Mrs. Harper, her daughter, and Flora nervously anxious about the anticipated decision. The former struggled hard to fortify her mind by reasons drawn from her knowledge of the wonderful care over all His creatures which is exercised by Him who made and continually sustains all parts of His creation, both moral and physical — but this she found an almost impossible task. The crisis that was to decide her earthly condition, leaving her in competence, or casting her down into the low valley of poverty, was too near. Tremblingly anxious as they all were, the time passed with them slowly and silently. Expressed hopes could do no good. The point of time in which the decision was to be made, was too near to leave room for a fond imagination to create airy palaces. Reality was at hand.
Mr. Redding, the advocate who had represented Mrs. Harper in the case, had promised that he would see her immediately on the announcement of the court's decision. For his appearance, they were now waiting. Ten o'clock at last came. From that time each of the three anxious expectants could distinctly hear the sound of her own laboring heart. The first, second, and third quarter hours passed, and yet there was no tidings. A few minutes more must decide. How much hung upon those minutes!
Just then drew near the sound of carriage wheels. Every heart ceased to beat. Then it passed away! Another instant, and the bell was rung violently. The servant opened the street door, heavy footsteps were heard in the hall — but the smiling face of the kind advocate in a moment after assured everyone. The decision of the court was all right. Mrs. Harper could not restrain her tears at the announcement; they flowed freely, and mingled with those of her daughter and Flora.
Thus terminated an affair which took at once the scales from Flora's eyes, and enabled her to see deeply into the character of her lover. As from a frightful precipice, to which, lured by beautiful flowers that grew upon its very brink — she startled back in alarm. There was nothing now attractive for her in the once fascinating Garnett. The drapery which shrouded a loathsome form had been drawn aside for a moment, and the illusion that had kept her beside that form was gone forever. One glance sufficed.
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