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ngs 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； that only two years previously； there had been but one volume lost。 Harry tried to revive his recollection of the time and place； when and where； he had read that volume； with the portrait of Steele； and Addison's papers on the Paradise Lost； he should have felt sure it was at Greatwood； not long before going abroad with Mr。 Henley； had it not been； that he found his brother had the very same edition in Philadelphia； and he might have read it there。 He also endeavoured to discover when and how the second missing volume had been removed from its usual place on the shelf。 But this was no easy task； neither the housekeepera respectable woman； in whom Mrs。 Stanley and himself had perfect confidencenor the servants； could form even a surmise upon the subject。 At last Harry thought he had obtained a clue to everything； he found that two strangers had been at Greatwood in the month of March； that year； and had gone over the whole house； representing themselves as friends of the family。 The housekeeper had forgotten the