elinor wyllys-2-第12章

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ave　endeavoured　to　be　as　faithful　to　nature　as　I　could；　in　every　instance。　You　will　find　several　views　familiar　to　you；　among　the　number；〃　added　Charlie；　addressing　Hazlehurst。

〃I　have　no　doubt　that　you　have　done　them　justice。〃

〃They　are　far　from　being　as　good　as　I　could　wish；　but　I　did　my　best。　You　will　find　some　improvement；　sir；　I　hope；〃　added　Charlie；　turning　to　Mr。　Wyllys；　〃since　my　first　attempt　at　Chewattan　Lake；　in　the　days　of　Compound　Interest。〃

〃You　have　not　forgotten　your　old　enemy；　the　Arithmetic；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys；　smiling。　〃I　am　afraid　Fortune　will　never　smile　upon　you　for　having　deserted　from　the　ranks　of　trade。〃

〃I　am　not　sure　of　that；　sir；　she　is　capricious；　you　know。〃

〃I　should　think　you　would　do　well；　Charlie；　to　try　your　luck　just　now；　by　an　exhibition　of　your　pictures。〃

〃My　uncle　has　already　proposed　an　exhibition；　but　I　doubt　its　success；　our　people　don't　often　run　after　good　pictures；〃　he　added；　smiling。　〃If　I　had　brought　with　me　some　trash　from　Paris　or　Leghorn；　I　might　have　made　a　mint　of　money。〃

A　general　conversation　continued　until　the　party　returned　towards　the　hotels。　They　were　met；　as　they　approached　Congress　Hall；　by　several　persons；　two　of　whom　proved　to　be　Mrs。　Hilson；　and　Miss　Emmeline　Hubbard。　Charlie　had　already　seen　his　cousins　in　New　York；　and　he　merely　bowed　in　passing。　Miss　Emmeline　was　leaning　on　the　arm　of　M。　Bonnet；　Mrs。　Hilson　on　that　of　another　Frenchman；　whose　name；　as　the　〃Baron　Adolphe　de　Montbrun；〃　had　been　constantly　on　her　lips　during　the　last　few　weeks；　or　in　other　words；　ever　since　she　had　made　his　acquaintance。　Charlie　kept　his　eye　fixed　on　this　individual；　with　a　singular　expression　of　surprise　and　vexation；　until　he　had　passed。　He　thought　he　could　not　be　mistaken；　that　his　cousin's　companion　was　no　other　than　a　man　of　very　bad　character；　who　had　been　in　Rome　at　the　same　time　with　himself；　and　having　married　the　widow　of　an　Italian　artist；　a　sister　of　one　of　Hubbard's　friends；　had　obtained　possession　of　her　little　property；　and　then　deserted　her。　The　whole　affair　had　taken　place　while　Charlie　was　in　Rome；　and　it　will　readily　be　imagined　that　he　felt　no　little　indignation；　when　he　met　a　person　whom　he　strongly　suspected　of　being　this　very　chevalier　d'industrie；　flourishing　at　Saratoga；　by　the　side　of　his　uncle　Joseph's　daughter。

｛〃chevalier　d'industrie〃　=　con　man；　swindler；　man　who　lives　by　his　wits　（French）｝

Charlie　had　no　sooner　left　the　Wyllyses　on　the　piazza　at　Congress　Hall；　than　he　proceeded　to　make　some　inquiry　about　this　Frenchman。　He　found　his　name　down　in　the　books　of　the　hotel；　as　the　Baron　Adolphe　de　Montbrun；　which　with　the　exception　of　ALPHONSE　for　the　first　name；　was　the　appellation　of　the　very　man　who　had　behaved　so　badly　at　Rome。　He　went　to　Mrs。　Hilson；　and　told　her　his　suspicions；　but　they　had　not　the　least　effect　on　the　〃city　lady；〃　she　would　not　believe　them。　Charlie　had　no　positive　proof　of　what　he　asserted；　he　could　not　be　confident　beyond　a　doubt　as　to　the　identity　of　this　person　and　the　Montbrun　of　the　Roman　story；　for　he　had　only　seen　that　individual　once　in　Italy。　Still；　he　was　convinced　himself；　and　he　entreated　his　cousin　to　be　on　her　guard；　the　effect　of　his　representations　may　be　appreciated　from　the　fact；　that　Mrs。　Hilson　became　more　amiable　than　ever　with　the　Baron；　while　she　was　pouting　and　sulky　with　Charlie；　scarcely　condescending　to　notice　him　at　all。　Hubbard　only　remained　twenty…four　hours　at　Saratoga；　for　he　was　on　his　way　to　Lake　George；　before　he　left　the　Springs；　however；　he　hinted　to　Mr。　Wyllys　his　suspicions　of　this　Montbrun；　in　order　to　prevent　that　individual's　intruding　upon　the　ladies　of　the　Wyllys　party；　for　Mrs。　Hilson　delighted　in　introducing　him　right　and　left。　As　for　her　other　companion；　M。　Bonnet；　he　was　known　to　be　a　respectable　merchant　in　New　York。

Several　days　passed；　during　which　our　friends　at　Saratoga；　like　the　rest　of　the　world　there；　walked；　and　rode；　and　drank　the　waters；　and　seemed　to　pass　their　time　very　pleasantly；　although　the　ladies　did　not　either　dress　or　flirt　as　much　as　many　of　their　companions；　who　seemed　to　look　upon　these　two　occupations　as　the　peculiar　business　of　the　place。　Jane's　spirits　improved　very　much；　there　was　much　curiosity　to　see　her；　on　account　of　her　reputation　as　a　beauty；　but；　like　the　rest　of　her　party；　she　was　only　occasionally　in　the　public　rooms。

〃Have　you　seen　the　beautiful　Mrs。　Taylor？〃〃I　caught　a　glimpse　of　Mrs。　Taylor；　the　great　beauty；　this　morning〃What；　the　beautiful　Jane　Graham　that　was？　is　she　as　lovely　as　ever？〃were　remarks　that　were　frequently　heard　in　the　crowd。

Elinor　also　came　in　for　her　share　of　the　public　notice；　and　the　attention　she　attracted　was；　of　course；　of　a　directly　opposite　character。　There　happened　to　be　staying　at　Congress　Hall；　just　then；　a　very　pretty　young　lady；　from　Savannah；　who　was　also　considered　a　great　fortune；　she　was　known　as　the　〃lovely　heiress；〃　while　Elinor；　in　contradistinction；　was　spoken　of　as　the　〃ugly　heiress。〃

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　a　young　lady；　standing　on　the　piazza　one　evening；　〃I　have　not　yet　seen　the　ugly　heiress。　I　should　like　to　get　a　peep　at　her；　is　she　really　so　very　ugly？〃　she　continued；　addressing　a　young　man　at　her　side。

〃Miss　Wyllys；　you　mean；　a　perfect　frightugly　as　sin；〃　replied　the　gentleman。

Elinor；　at　the　very　moment；　was　standing　immediately　behind　the　speakers；　and　Mr。　Ellsworth；　who　was　talking　to　her；　was　much　afraid　she　had　heard　the　remark。　To　cut　short　the　conversation；　he　immediately　addressed　her　himself；　raising　his　voice　a　little；　and　calling　her　by　name。

The　young　lady　was　quite　frightened；　when　she　found　the　〃ugly　heiress〃　was　her　near　neighbour；　and　even　the　dandy　was　abashed；　but　Elinor　herself　was　rather　amused　with　the　circumstance；　and　she　smiled　at　the　evident　mortification　of　the　speakers。　Never　was　there　a　woman　more　free　from　personal　vanity　than　Elinor　Wyllys；　and　she　was　indifferent　to　remarks　of　this　kind；　to　a　degree　that　would　seem　scarcely　credible　to　that　class　of　young　ladies；　who　think　no　sound　so　delightful　as　that　of　a　compliment。　On　the　evening　in　question；　the　piazzas　were　crowded　with　the　inmates　of　the　hotels；　those　who　had　feeling　for　the　beauties　of　nature；　and　those　who　had　not；　came　out　alike；　to　admire　an　unusual　effect　of　moonlight　upon　a　fine　mass　of　clouds。　Elinor　was　soon　aware　that　she　was　in　the　neighbourhood　of　Mrs。　Hilson　and　her　sister；　by　the　silly　conversation　they　were　keeping　up　with　their　companions。　These　Longbridge　ladies　generally　kept　with　their　own　party；　which　was　a　large　one。　The　Wyllyses　were　not　sorry　that　they　seldom　met；　for；　little　as　they　liked　the　sisters；　they　wished　always　to　treat　them　civilly；　on　account　of　their　father。　The　English　art　of　〃cutting〃　is；　indeed；　little　practised　in　America；　except　in　extreme　cases；　all　classes　are　too　social　in　their　feelings　and　habits　to　adopt　it。　It　is；　indeed；　an　honourable　characteristic　of　those　who　occupy　the　highest　social　position　in　Americathose　who　have　received；　in　every　respect；　the　best　education　in　the　countrythat；　as　a　class；　they　are　free　from　the　little；　selfish；　ungenerous　feeling　of　mere　exclusiveism。

〃Oh；　here　you　are；　Miss　Wyllys！〃　exclaimed　Emmeline　Hubbard　to　Elinor；　who　was　talking　to　Mrs。　Creighton。　〃I　have　been　wishing　to　see　you　all　the　afternoonI　owe　you　an　apology。〃

〃An　apology　to　me；　Miss　Hubbard？I　was　not　at　all　aware　of　it。〃

〃Is　it　possible？　I　was　afraid　you　would　think　me　very　rude　this　morning；　when　I　spoke　to　you　in　the　drawing…room；　for　there　was　a　gentleman　with　you　at　the　time。　Of　course　I　ought　not　to　have　joined　you　at　such　a　moment；　but　I　was　anxious　to　give　you　the　Longbridge　news。〃

〃Certainly；　I　was　very　glad　to　hear　it：　the　conversation　you　interrupted　was　a　very　trifling　one。〃

〃Oh；　I　did　not　wish　to　insinuate　that　you　were　conversing　on　a　PARTICULARLY　interesting　subject。　But；　of　course；　I　am　too　well　acquainted　with　the　etiquette　of　polished　circles；　not　to　know　that　it　is　wrong　for　one　young　lady　to　intrude　upon　another　while　conversing　with　a　gentleman。

〃If　there　be　such　a　point　of　etiquette；　I　must　have　often　broken　it　very　innocently；　myself。　I　have　never　practised　it；　I　assure　you。〃

〃Ah；　that　is　very　imprudent；　Miss　Wyllys！〃　said　the　fair　Emmeline；　shaking　her　fan　at　Elinor。　〃Who　knows　how　much　mischief　one　may　do；　in　that　way？　You　might　actually　prevent　a　declaration。　And　then　a　young　lady　is；　of　course；　always　too　agreeably　occupied　in　entertaining　a　beau；　to　wish　to　leave　him　for　a　female　friend。　It　is　not　everybody　who　would　be　as　good…natured　as　yourself　at　such　an　interruption。〃

〃I　have　no　merit　whatever　in　the　matter；　I　assure　you；　for　I　was　very　glad　to　find　that〃

Just　at　that　moment　one　of　Miss　Hubbard's　admirers　approached　her；　and　without　waiting　to　hear　the　conclusion　of　Elinor's　remark；　she　turned　abruptly　from　the　lady；　to　meet　the　gentleman；　with　a　striking　increase　of　grace；　and　the　expression　of　the　greatest　interest　in　her　whole　manner。

Elinor　smiled；　as　the　thought　occurred　to　her；　that　this　last　act　of　rudeness　was　really　trying　to　her　good…nature；　while　she　had　never　dreamed　of　resenting　the　interruption　of　the　morning。　But　Miss　Hubbard　was　only　following　the　code　of　etiquette；　tacitly　adopted　by　the　class　of　young　ladies　she　belonged　to；　who　never　scrupled　to　make　their　manner　to　men；　much　more　attentive　and　flattering　than　towards　one　of　themselves；　or　even　towards　an　older　person　of　their　own　sex。

Elinor；　however；　had　seen　such　manoeuvres　before；　and　she　would　scarcely　have　noticed　it　at　the　moment；　had　it　not　been　for　Miss　Emmeline's　previous　apology。

Mrs。　Hilson　soon　approached　her。　〃Has　Emmeline　been　communicating　our　Longbridge　intelligence；　Miss　Wyllys？　Do　you　think　it　a　good　match？〃

〃I　hope　it　will　prove　so；　we　were　very　glad　to　hear　of　it。　Mary　Van　Horne　is　a　great　favourite　of　my　aunt's；　and　Mr。　Roberts；　I　hear；　is　highly　spoken　of。〃

〃Yes；　and　he　is　very　rich；　too；　she　has　nothing　at　all　herself；　I　believe。''

〃Do　you　know　whether　they　are　to　live　in　New　York？　I　hope　they　will　not　go　very　far　from　us。〃

〃I　suppose　they　will　live　in　the　city；　as　he　is　so　wealthy；　Mary　will　have　an　opportunity　of　tasting　the　fascinations　of　high　life。　I　shall　introduce　her　to　a　clique　of　great　refinement　at　once。　Don't　you　think　Saratoga　the　most　delightful　place　in　the　world；　Miss　Wyllys？　I　am　never　so　happy　as　when　here。　I　delight　so　much　in　the　gay　world；　it　appears　to　me　that　I　breathe　more　freely　in　a　crowdsolitude　oppresses　me；　do　you　like　it？〃

〃I　have　never　tried　it　very　long。　If　you　like　a　crowd；　you　must　be　perfectly　satisfied；　just　now。〃

''And　so　I　am；　Miss　Wyllys；　perfectly　happy　in　these　fashionable　scenes。　Do　you　know；　it　is　a　fact；　that　I　lose　my　appetite　unless　I　can　sit　down　to　table　with　at　least　thirty　or　forty　fashionably　dressed　people　about　me；　and　I　never　sleep　sounder　than　on　board　a　steamboat；　where　the　floor　is　covered　with　mattresses。　I　am　not　made　for　retirement；　certainly。　Ah；　Monsieur　Bonnet；　here　you　are　again；　I　see；　what　have　you　done　with　the　Baron？is　not　the　Baron　with　you？〃

〃No；　Madame；　he　has　not　finish　his　cigar。　And　where　is　Mlle。　Emmeline？I　hope　she　has　not　abandonne　me！〃　said　M。　Bonnet；　who；　to　do　him　justice；　was　a　sufficiently　re