elinor wyllys-2-第10章

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〃Very　pleasant；〃　said　Elinor。

〃Delightful！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Ellsworth。　〃I　hope　we　shall　have　such　another　every　day。〃

〃Then　I　must　try　and　find　an　animal；　with　rather　better　paces　than　the　one　which　has　the　honour　of　carrying　me　at　present；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker。

〃But　Mrs。　Creighton　has　been　so　very　agreeable；　that　I　should　think　you　would　have　been　happy　to　accompany　her　on　the　worst　horse　in　Saratoga；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃Only　too　agreeable；〃　replied　Mr。　Stryker；　as　he　helped　the　lady　to　dismount；　while　Mr。　Ellsworth　performed　the　same　service　to　Elinor。



CHAPTER　V。　｛XXVIII｝

〃I　do　beseech　your　grace；　for　charity；　If　ever　any　malice　in　your　heart　Were　hid　against　me；　now　to　forgive　me　frankly。〃　Henry　VIII。

｛William　Shakespeare；　〃Henry　VIII〃；　II。i。79…81｝

ONE　evening；　about　a　week　after　the　arrival　of　the　Wyllyses；　there　was　a　dance　at　Congress　Hall；　where　they　were　staying。　Mrs。　Creighton；　with　her　brother；　who　were　already　engaged　to　meet　some　friends　there；　urged　Elinor　very　much　to　join　them；　but　she　declined；　not　wishing　to　leave　Jane。　Mr。　Ellsworth；　who　had　been　very　devoted；　of　late；　seemed　particularly　anxious　she　should　go。　But　although　Elinor's　manner　betrayed　some　little　embarrassment；　if　not　indecision；　as　the　gentleman　urged　her　doing　so；　still　she　persisted　in　remaining　with　her　cousin。

｛〃Congress　Hall〃　=　the　most　fashionable　hotel　in　Saratoga　Springs　　built　in　1811；　the　original　building　burned　in　1866｝

〃Well；　I　am　sorry　we　cannot　persuade　you；　Miss　Wyllys；　though　I　dare　say　you　will　have　a　very　pleasant　evening　in　your　own　parlour。〃

〃We　must　put；　off　our　game　of　chess　until　to…morrow；　Mrs。　Creighton；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃Yes；　unfortunately　for　me；　for　I　have　fully　determined　to　beat　you；　sir；　at　our　next　trial。　Well；　Frank；　we　cannot　stay　here　all　the　evening；　I　dare　say；　our　friends；　the　Stevensons；　are　looking　for　us　in　the　ball…room　already。〃　

〃Mrs。　Creighton　is　a　very　pretty　woman；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys；　as　he　seated　himself　at　the　chess…board；　opposite　his　daughter；　after　the　brother　and　sister　had　left　the　room。

〃Yes；　a　very　pretty　woman；　and　she　always　looks　well　in　her　evening…dress；〃　replied　Miss　Agnes。

Elinor　devoted　herself　to　Jane's　amusement。　Ever　since　they　had　been　together；　she　had　given　up　a　great　part　of　her　time　to　Mrs。　Taylor；　whom　she　was　very　anxious　to　cheer　and　enliven；　that　she　might　persuade　her　to　throw　off　the　melancholy　and　low　spirits；　which　her　cousin　seemed　purposely　to　encourage。　The　sick　baby　was　better；　and　Elinor　was　in　hopes　that　before　they　parted；　she　should　succeed　in　awakening　Jane　to　a　somewhat　better　frame　of　mind。　She　was　very　desirous　that　the　time　they　were　together　should　not　be　lost；　and　her　kindness　was　so　unwearied；　her　manner　was　so　affectionate　and　soothing；　and　the　advice　she　sometimes　allowed　herself　to　give；　was　so　clear　and　sensible；　that　at　last　Jane　seemed　to　feel　the　good　effects　of　her　cousin's　efforts。

After　Mr。　Ellsworth　and　his　sister　had　left　the　room　to　join　the　dancers；　Jane　suddenly　turned　to　Elinor；　with　tears　in　her　eyes。　〃How　kind　you　are！〃　she　said。　〃I　daresay　you　would　like　to　go　down…stairs；but　you　are　too　good　to　me；　Elinor！〃

〃Nonsense；　Jenny；　I　can't　help　it　if　I　would。　Do　you　think　I　should　enjoy　dancing；　if　I　knew　you　were　sitting　alone　in　this　dark　corner；　while　grandpapa　and　Aunt　Agnes　are　playing　chess！　You　are　looking　a　great　deal　more　woe…begone　than　you　ought　to；　now　baby　is　so　much　better。〃

〃You　spoil　me；〃　said　Jane；　shaking　her　head；　and　smiling　with　more　feeling　than　usual　in　her　unexpressive　face。

〃I　shall　spoil　you　a　great　deal　more　before　we　get　through。　Next　week；　when　Mr。　Taylor　comes；　I　intend　to　talk　him　into　bringing　you　over　to　Wyllys…Roof；　to　pay　a　good　long　visit；　like　old　times。〃

〃I　had　much　rather　think　of　old　times；　than　of　what　is　to　come。　There　is　nothing　pleasant　for　me　to　look　forward　to！〃

〃How　can　you　know　that；　Jane？　I　have　learned　one　lesson　by　experience；　though　I　am　only　a　year　older　than　you；　dearand　it　is；　that　if　we　are　often　deceived　by　hope；　so　we　are　quite　as　often　misled　by　fear。〃

〃I　believe；　Elinor；　you　are　my　best　friend；〃　said　Jane；　holding　out　her　hand　to　her　cousin。

〃Oh；　you　have　more　good　friends　than　you　think　for；　and　much　good　of　every　kind；　though　you　will　shut　your　eyes　to　the　fact。〃

〃It　may　be　so；〃　said　Jane；　〃I　will　try　to　follow　your　advice；　if　I　can。〃

〃Try　hard；　then；〃　said　Elinor；　〃and　all　will　go　well。　And　now；　shall　I　sing　you　the　song　Mrs。　Creighton　cut　short？〃

She　began　to　sing　〃Auld　Lang　Syne；〃　but　the　song　was　interrupted　before　she　had　finished　the　second　verse。　Several　persons　were　heard　approaching　their　room；　which　was　in　a　retired；　quiet　part　of　the　house；　the　door　soon　opened；　and　in　walked　Robert　Hazlehurst。

〃Well；　good　people；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　take　the　world　as　quietly　as　anybody　I　know！　We　supposed；　of　course；　you　were　at　the　ball；　but　Elinor's　voice　betrayed　you。　This　way；　Louisa；〃　he　said；　returning　to　the　door；　after　having　shaken　hands　with　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Miss　Agnes。

〃How　glad　I　am　to　see　you！〃　exclaimed　Elinor〃you　are　as　good　as　your　word；　but　we　did　not　expect　you　for　several　days；〃　and　Jane　and　herself　went　to　the　door　to　meet　Mrs。　Hazlehurst。

〃And；　pray；　what　reason　had　you　to　suppose　that　we　should　not　keep　our　word？〃　said　the　latter；　as　she　appeared。

〃We　thought　Harry　would　probably　detain　you；〃　said　Elinor。

〃Not　at　all；　we　brought　him　along　with　us。〃　

〃That　was　a　good　arrangement　we　had　not　thought　of；〃　observed　Miss　Agnes。

Harry　entered　the　room。　He　was　not　entirely　free　from　embarrassment　at　first；　but　when　Mr。　Wyllys　met　him　with　something　of　the　cordial　manner　of　old　times；　he　immediately　recovered　himself。　He　kissed　the　hand　of　Miss　Agnes；　as　in　former　days；　and　saluted　Elinor　in　the　same　way；　instead　of　the　more　brotherly　greetings　with　which　he　used　to　meet　her　of　old。

〃And　here　is　Jane；　too；　Harry；〃　said　Mrs。　Hazlehurst；　who　had　just　embraced　her　sister。　〃You　have　been　so　long　away；　that　I　dare　say　you　have　forgotten　half　your　old　friends。〃

〃Not　at　all；〃　said　Harry；　crossing　the　room　to　Jane。　〃I　think　myself　a　very　lucky　fellow；　at　finding　them　all　collected　here　together；　for　my　especial　benefit。　I　met　Mr。　Taylor　for　a　moment　in　New　York；〃　he　continued；　addressing　Jane。

〃Did　he　say　when　he　was　coming　for　me？〃　replied　Mrs。　Taylor；　offering　her　hand　to　her　kinsman。

〃He　told　me　that　he　should　be　at　Saratoga　very　shortly。〃

〃I　have　a　letter　for　you　in　my　trunk；　Jane；〃　said　Mrs。　Robert　Hazlehurst。

〃Don't　you　think　our　invalid　much　better；　already；　Louisa？〃　asked　Elinor。

〃Yes；　she　does　credit　to　your　nursing。〃

〃No　wonder；〃　said　Jane；　〃for　during　the　last　month　I　have　been　petted　all　the　timefirst　by　Mrs。　Taylor；　then　by　Aunt　Agnes　and　Elinor。〃

〃It's　very　pleasant　to　be　petted；〃　said　Harry；　〃that's　precisely　what　I　came　home　for。　I　give　you　my　notice；　Louisa；　I　expect　a　great　deal　from　you　in　the　next　three　months。〃

〃Is　that　the　length　of　your　holiday？〃　inquired　Miss　Agnes。

〃So　says　my　master；　Mr。　Henley。　I　understand；〃　he　added；　turning　to　Elinor；　〃that　you　have　all　the　agreeable　people　in　the　country　collected　here。〃

〃There　are　some　thousands　of　us；　agreeable　and　disagreeable；　altogether。　They　say　the　place　has　never　been　more　crowded　so　early　in　the　season。〃

〃So　I'm　told。　I　was　warned　that　if　I　came；　I　should　have　to　make　my　bed　in　the　cellar；　or　on　the　roof。　Are　Ellsworth　and　Mrs。　Creighton　at　this　house；　or　at　the　other？〃

〃They　are　staying　at　the　United　States。　They　are　here　this　evening；　however；　at　the　dance。〃

｛〃United　States〃　=　the　other　major　hotel　in　Saratoga　Springs；　less　fashionable　at　this　time　than　Congress　Hall｝

〃Indeed！I　have　half　a　mind　to　take　Ellsworth　by　surprise。　Will　they　admit　a　gentleman　in　travelling　costume；　do　you　think？〃

〃I　dare　say　they　will；　but　here　are　your　friends；　coming　to　look　for　you。〃

At　the　same　moment；　Mr。　Ellsworth　and　Mrs。　Creighton　joined　the　party。

〃How　d'ye　do；　Ellsworth？Glad　to　see　you；　my　dear　fellow！〃　cried　the　young　men；　shaking　each　other　violently　by　the　hand。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Hazlehurst？〃　added　the　lady；　〃Welcome　back　again。　But　what　have　you　done　with　your　sister…in…law？for　I　did　not　come　to　call　upon　you　alone。　Ah；　here　you　are；　Mrs。　Hazlehurst。　My　brother　observed　you　passing　through　the　hall；　as　you　arrived；　and　we　determined　that　it　would　be　much　pleasanter　to　pass　half　an　hour　with　you；　than　to　finish　the　dance。　We　have　been　wishing　for　you　every　day。〃

〃Thank　you。　We　should　have　set　out　before；　if　we　had　not　waited　for　Harry。　Elinor　tells　me　half　Philadelphia　is　here；　already。〃

〃Yes；　the　houses　have　filled　up　very　much　since　I　first　came；　for　I　am　ashamed　to　say　how　long　I　have　been　here。〃

〃Why；　yes：　I　understood　you　were　going　to　Nahant。〃

〃We　ought　to　have　been　there　long　ago；　but　I　could　not　move　this　obstinate　brother　of　mine。　He　has　never　found　Saratoga　so　delightful；　Mrs。　Hazlehurst；〃　added　the　lady；　with　an　expressive　smile；　and　a　look　towards　Elinor。　〃I　can't　say；　however；　that　I　at　all　regret　being　forced　to　stay；　for　many　of　our　friends　are　here；　now。　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　I　hope　you　have　come　home　more　agreeable　than　ever。〃

〃I　hope　so　too；　Mrs。　Creighton；　for　it　is　one　of　our　chief　duties　as　diplomatists；　'to　tell　lies　for　the　good　of　our　country；'　in　an　agreeable　way。　But　I　am　afraid　I　have　not　improved　my　opportunities。　I　have　been　very　much　out　of　humour　for　the　last　six　months；　at　least。〃　

〃And　why；　pray？〃

〃Because　I　wanted　to　come　home；　and　Mr。　Henley；　my　boss；　insisted　upon　proving　to　me　it　would　be　the　most　foolish　thing　I　could　do。　He　was　so　much　in　the　right；　that　I　resented　it　by　being　cross。〃

〃But　now　he　has　come　himself；　and　brought　you　with　him。〃

〃No　thanks　to　him；　though。　It　was　all　Uncle　Sam's　doings；　who　wants　to　send　us　from　the　Equator　to　the　North　Pole。〃

〃Are　you　really　going　to　Russia；　Hazlehurst？〃　asked　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃Certainly；　you　would　not　have　me　desert；　would　you？〃

〃Oh；　no；　don't　think　of　it；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　it　must　be　a　very　pleasant　life！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Creighton。　〃I　only　wish；　Frank；　that　you　were　enough　of　a　politician　to　be　sent　as　minister　somewhere；　I　should　delight　in　doing　the　honours　for　you；　though　I　dare　say　you　would　rather　have　some　one　else　in　my　place。〃

〃We　will　wait　until　I　am　sent　as　ambassador　to　Timbuctoo；　before　I　answer　the　question。〃

〃You　have　grown　half…a…dozen　shades　darker　than　you　used　to　be　as　a　youngster；　Harry；　or　else　this　lamp　deceives　me；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃I　dare　say　I　may　have　a　fresh　tinge　of　the　olive。　But　I　am　just　from　sea；　sir；　and　that　may　have　given　me　an　additional　coat。〃

〃Did　you　suffer　much　from　heat；　on　the　voyage？〃　asked　Miss　Wyllys。

〃Not　half　as　much　as　I　have　since　I　landed。　It　appeared　to　me　Philadelphia　was　the　warmest　spot　I　had　ever　breathed　in；　worse　than　Rio。　I　was　delighted　when　Louisa　proposed　my　coming　to　Saratoga　to　see　my　friends。〃

〃You　will　find　it　quite　warm　enough　here；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃The　thermometer　was　92　｛degrees｝　in　the　shade；　yesterday。〃

〃I　don't　expect　to　be　well　cooled；　sir；　until　we　get　to　St。　Petersburgh。　After　a　sea…voyage；　I　believe　one　always　feels　the　cold　less；　and　the　heat　more　than　usua