elinor wyllys-2-第11章

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han　usual。　But　where　is　Mrs。　Stanley？we　hoped　to　find　her　with　you。　Is　she　not　staying　at　this　house？〃

〃Yes；　but　she　left　us　early；　this　evening；　not　feeling　very　well；　you　will　not　be　able　to　see　her　until　to…morrow；〃　said　Miss　Agnes。

〃I　am　sorry　she　is　not　well；　how　is　she　looking？〃

〃Particularly　well；　I　think；　she　merely　complained　of　a　head…ache　from　riding　in　the　sun。〃

〃Mrs。　Stanley　has　been　very　anxious　for　your　return；　but　she　will　be　as　agreeably　surprised　as　the　rest　of　us；　to　find　you　here；〃　said　Elinor。

〃Thank　you。　I　look　upon　myself　as　particularly　fortunate；　to　find　so　many　old　friends　collected　in　one　spot；　instead　of　having　to　run　about；　and　hunt　for　each　in　a　different　place；　just　now　that　I　am　limited　for　time。〃

〃You　ought　to　be　greatly　indebted　to　Frank　and　myself；　for　breaking　our　word　and　staying　here；　instead　of　keeping　our　promise　and　going　to　Nahant；　as　we　had　engaged　to　do；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。

〃Certainly；　I　look　upon　it　as　part　of　my　good　luck；　but　I　should　have　made　my　appearance　at　Nahant；　if　you　had　actually　run　away　from　me。〃

〃I　shall　believe　you；　for　I　make　it　a　point　of　always　believing　what　is　agreeable。〃

〃As　I　knew　Mrs。　Hazlehurst　and　your　brother　had　engaged　rooms　here；　I　hoped　you　would　join　us；　soon　after　your　arrival；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃It　was　much　the　best　plan　for　you；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

Harry　looked　gratified　by　this　friendly　remark。

It　was　already　late；　and　Mrs。　Hazlehurst；　who　had　been　conversing　in　a　corner　with　Jane；　complained　of　being　fatigued　by　her　day's　journey；　which　broke　up　the　party。　The　Hazlehursts；　like　Mrs。　Creighton　and　her　brother；　were　staying　at　the　United　States；　and　they　all　went　off　together。

When　Elinor；　as　usual；　kissed　Mr。　Wyllys　before　retiring　to　her　own　room；　she　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then　said：

〃I　must　thank　you；　grandpapa；　for　having　granted　my　request；　and　received　Harry　as　of　old。　It　is　much　better　that　the　past　should　be　entirely　forgotten。　Self…respect　seems　to　require　that　we　should　not　show　resentment　under　the　circumstances；〃　she　added；　colouring　slightly。

〃I　cannot　forget　the　past；　Elinor。　Harry　does　not　stand　with　me　where　he　once　did；　by　the　side　of　my　beloved　grandchild；　but　we　will　not　think　of　that　any　longer；　as　you　say。　I　hope　for　better　things　from　the　future。　Bless　you；　dear！〃



CHAPTER　VI。　｛XXIX｝

〃The　foam　upon　the　waters；　not　so　light。〃　COWPER。

｛William　Cowper　（English　poet；　1731…1800）；　〃Truth〃　line　43｝

As　usual　at　Saratoga；　early　the　next　morning　groups　of　people　were　seen　moving　from　the　different　hotels；　towards　the　Congress　Spring。　It　was　a　pleasant　day；　and　great　numbers　appeared　disposed　to　drink　the　water　at　the　fountain…head；　instead　of　having　it　brought　to　their　rooms。　The　Hazlehursts　were　not　the　only　party　of　our　acquaintances　who　had　arrived　the　night　before。　The　Wyllyses　found　Miss　Emma　Taylor　already　on　the　ground；　chattering　in　a　high　key　with　a　tall；　whiskered　youth。　The　moment　she　saw　Elinor；　she　sprang　forward　to　meet　her。

｛〃Congress　Spring〃　=　principal　mineral　water　source　at　Saratoga　Springs｝

〃How　do　you　do；　Miss　Wyllys？Are　you　not　surprised　to　see　me　here？〃

〃One　can　hardly　be　surprised　at　meeting　anybody　in　such　a　crowd；〃　said　Elinor。　〃When　did　you　arrive？〃

〃Last　night；　at　eleven　o'clock。　We　made　a　forced　march　from　Schenectady；　where　we　were　to　have　slept；　but　I　persuaded　Adeline　and　Mr。　St。　Leger　to　come　on。　You　can't　think　how　delighted　I　am　to　be　here；　at　last；〃　said　the　pretty　little　creature；　actually　skipping　about　with　joy。

〃And　where　is　Mrs。　St。　Leger？〃

〃Oh；　she　will　he　here　in　a　moment。　She　has　gone　to　Jane's　room。　I　left　her　there　just　now。〃

The　platform　round　the　spring　was　quite　crowded。　In　one　party；　Elinor　remarked　Mrs。　Hilson　and　Miss　Emmeline　Hubbard；　escorted　by　Monsieur　Bonnet　and　another　Frenchman。　They　were　soon　followed　by　a　set　more　interesting　to　Elinor；　the　Hazlehursts；　Mrs。　Creighton；　and　her　brother。

〃I　hope　none　of　your　party　from　Wyllys…Roof　are　here　from　necessity；〃　said　Harry；　after　wishing　Elinor　good…morning。

〃Not　exactly　from　necessity；　but　the　physicians　recommended　to　Aunt　Agnes　to　pass　a　fortnight　here；　this　summer。　You　may　have　heard　that　she　was　quite　ill；　a　year　ago？〃

〃Yes；　Robert；　of　course；　wrote　me　word　of　her　illness。　But　Miss　Wyllys　looks　quite　like　herself；　I　think。　As　for　Mr。　Wyllys；　he　really　appears　uncommonly　well。〃

〃Thank　you；　grandpapa　is　very　well；　indeed；　and　Aunt　Agnes　has　quite　recovered　her　health；　I　trust。〃

〃Miss　Wyllys；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker；　offering　a　glass　of　the　water　to　Elinor；　〃can't　I　persuade　you　to　take　a　sympathetic　cup；　this　morning？〃

〃I　believe　not；〃　replied　Elinor；　shaking　her　head。

〃Do　you　never　drink　it〃'　asked　Mrs。　Creighton。　

〃No；　I　really　dislike　it　very　much。〃

〃Pray；　give　it　to　me；　Mr。　Stryker；〃　continued　Mrs。　Creighton。　〃Thank　you：　I　am　condemned　to　drink　three　glasses　every　morning；　and　it　will　be　three　hours；　at　this　rate；　before　I　get　them。〃

〃Did　you　ever　hear　a　better　shriek　than　that；　Miss　Wyllys？〃　said　Mr。　Stryker；　lowering　his　voice；　and　pointing　to　Emma　Taylor；　who　was　standing　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　spring；　engaged　in　a　noisy；　rattling　flirtation。　After　drinking　half　the　glass　that　had　been　given　to　her；　she　had　handed　it　to　the　young　man　to　whom　she　was　talking；　bidding　him　drink　it　without　making　a　face。　Of　course；　the　youth　immediately　exerted　himself　to　make　a　grimace。

〃Oh；　you　naughty　boy！〃　screamed　Miss　Taylor；　seizing　another　half…empty　glass；　and　throwing　a　handful　of　water　in　his　face；　〃this　is　the　way　I　shall　punish　you！〃

There　were　two　gentlemen；　European　travellers；　standing　immediately　behind　Elinor　at　this　moment；　and　the　colour　rose　in　her　cheeks　as　she　heard　the　very　unfavourable　observations　they　made　upon　Miss　Taylor；　judging　from　her　noisy　manner　in　a　public　place。　Elinor；　who　understood　very　well　the　language　in　which　they　spoke；　was　so　shut　in　by　the　crowd　that　she　could　not　move；　and　was　compelled　to　hear　part　of　a　conversation　that　deeply　mortified　her；　as　these　travellers；　apparently　gentlemanly　men　themselves；　exchanged　opinions　upon　the　manners　of　certain　young　ladies　they　had　recently　met。　They　began　to　compare　notes；　and　related　several　little　anecdotes；　anything　but　flattering　in　their　nature；　to　the　delicacy　of　the　ladies　alluded　to；　actually　naming　the　individuals　as　they　proceeded。　More　than　one　of　these　young　girls　was　well　known　to　Elinor；　and　from　her　acquaintance　with　their　usual　tone　of　manner　and　conversation；　she　had　little　doubt　as　to　the　truth　of　the　stories　these　travellers　had　recorded　for　the　amusement　of　themselves　and　their　friends；　at　the　same　time；　she　felt　perfectly　convinced　that　the　interpretation　put　upon　these　giddy；　thoughtless　actions；　was　cruelly　unjust。　Could　these　young　ladies　have　heard　the　observations　to　which　they　had　laid　themselves　open　by　their　own　folly；　they　would　have　been　sobered　at　once；　self…respect　would　have　put　them　more　on　their　guard；　ESPECIALLY　IN　THEIR　INTERCOURSE　WITH　FOREIGNERS。　It　is；　no　doubt；　delightful　to　see　young　persons　free　from　every　suspicion；　no　one　would　wish　to　impose　a　single　restraint　beyond　what　is　necessary；　but；　surely；　a　young　girl　should　not　only　be　sans　peur；　but　also　sans　reprochethe　faintest　imputation　on　her　native　modesty　is　not　to　be　endured：　and；　yet；　who　has　not　seen　pretty；　delicate　creatures；　scarcely　arrived　at　womanhood；　actually　assuming　a　noisy；　forward　pertness；　foreign　to　their　nature；　merely　to　qualify　them　for　the　envied　title　of　belles？　There　is　something　wrong；　certainly；　wherever　such　a　painful　picture　is　exhibited；　and　it　may　be　presumed　that　in　most　cases　the　fault　lies　rather　with　the　parents　than　the　daughters。　Happily；　the　giddy；　rattling　school　to　which　Miss　Emma　Taylor　belonged；　is　much　less　in　favour　now；　than　it　was　some　ten　or　fifteen　years　ago；　at　the　date　of　our　story。

｛〃sans　peur；　but　also　sans　reproche〃　=　without　fear；　but　also　without　reproach　（French）；　the　French　national　hero　Bayard　（1476…1524）；　is　traditionally　called　〃Le　Chevalier　sans　peur　et　sans　reproche〃｝

〃How　little　do　Emma　Taylor；　and　girls　like　her；　imagine　the　cruel　remarks　to　which　they　expose　themselves　by　their　foolish　manners！〃　thought　Elinor；　as　she　succeeded　at　length；　with　the　assistance　of　Mr。　Ellsworth；　in　extricating　herself　from　the　crowd。

As　the　Wyllys　party　moved　away　from　the　spring；　to　walk　in　the　pretty　wood　adjoining；　they　saw　a　young　man　coming　towards　them　at　a　very　rapid　pace。

〃Who　is　itany　one　you　know；　Miss　Wyllys？〃　asked　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃He　is　in　pursuit　of　some　other　party；　I　fancy；〃　replied　Elinor。

〃It　is　Charlie　Hubbard　coming　to　join　us；　did　we　forget　to　mention　that　he　came　up　the　river　with　us？〃　said　Harry；　who　was　following　Elinor；　with　Mrs。　Creighton　and　Mr。　Stryker。

The　young　painter　soon　reached　them；　as　they　immediately　stopped　to　welcome　him；　he　was　very　kindly　received　by　his　old　friends。

〃Well；　Charlie；　my　boy；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys；　〃if　Harry　had　not　been　here　to　vouch　for　your　identity；　I　am　not　sure　but　I　should　have　taken　you　for　an　exiled　Italian　bandit。　Have　you　shown　those　moustaches　at　Longbridge？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　Charlie；　laughing。　〃I　surprised　my　mother　and　sister　by　a　sight　of　them；　some　ten　days　since；　it　required　all　their　good…nature；　I　believe；　to　excuse　them。〃

〃I　dare　say　they　would　have　been　glad　to　see　you；　if　you　had　come　back　looking　like　a　Turk；〃　said　Elinor。

〃I　am　determined　not　to　shave　for　some　months；　out　of　principle；　just　to　show　my　friends　that　I　am　the　same　Charlie　Hubbard　with　moustaches　that　I　was　three　years　ago　without　them。〃

〃I　suppose　you　consider　it　part　of　your　profession　to　look　as　picturesque　as　our　stiff…cut　broadcloth　will　permit；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃If　you　really　suspect　me　of　dandyism；　sir；〃　said　Charlie；　〃I　shall　have　to　reform　at　once。〃

〃I　am　afraid；　Mr。　Hubbard；　that　you　have　forgotten　me；〃　observed　Mr。　Ellsworth；　〃though　I　passed　a　very　pleasant　morning　at　your　rooms　in　New　York；　some　years　since。〃

Charlie　remembered　him；　however；　and　also　made　his　bow　to　Mrs。　Creighton　and　Mr。　Stryker。

〃And　how　did　you　leave　the　Mediterranean；　sir？〃　asked　Mr。　Stryker；　in　a　dry　tone。　〃Was　the　sea　in　good　looks？〃

〃As　blue　as　ever。　I　am　only　afraid　my　friends　in　this　country　will　not　believe　the　colour　I　have　given　it　in　my　sketches。〃

〃We　are　bound　to　believe　all　your　representations　of　water；〃　remarked　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃I　hope　you　have　brought　back　a　great　deal　for　us　to　see；　have　you　anything　with　you　here？〃　asked　Elinor。

〃Only　my　sketch…book。　I　would　not　bring　anything　else；　for　I　must　get　rid　of　my　recollections　of　Italy。　I　must　accustom　my　eye　again　to　American　nature；　I　have　a　great　deal　to　do　with　Lake　George；　this　summer。〃

〃But　you　must　have　something　in　New　York；〃　said　Miss　Wyllys。

〃Yes；　I　have　brought　home　with　me　samples　of　water；　from　some　of　the　most　celebrated　lakes　and　rivers　in　Europe。〃

〃That　is　delightful；〃　said　Elinor；　〃and　when　can　we　see　them？〃

〃As　soon　as　they　are　unpacked；　I　shall　be　very　happy　to　show　them　to　my　friends。　They　will　probably　interest　you　on　account　of　the　localities；　and　I　have　endeavoured　to　be　as　faithful　to　nature　as　I　could；　in　every　instance。　You　will　find　several　vie