elinor wyllys-2-第13章

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〃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　respectable　man；　a　French　merchant　in　New　York；　and　no　way　connected　with　the　Baron。

〃Oh；　no；　she　is　here；　we　were　waiting　for　the　Baron　and　you　to　escort　us　to　the　drawing…room；　but　we　will　remain　until　the　Baron　comes。　I　have　heard　something　that　will　put　you　in　good…humour；　another　of　those　marriages　you　admire　so　muchone　of　the　parties　rolling　in　wealth　and　luxury；　the　other　poor　as　Job's　turkey。〃

〃Ah；　vraiment；　that　is　indeed　delightful；　cela　est　fort　touchant；　that　show　so　much　sensibilite；　to　appreciate　le　merite；　though　suffering　from　poverty。　A　marriage　like　that　must　be　beau　comme　un　reve　d'Amour！〃

｛〃vraiment〃　=　truly；　〃cela　est　fort　touchant〃　=　that　is　very　touching；　〃beau　comme　un　reve　d'Amour〃　=　as　beautiful　as　a　dream　of　Love　（French）｝

〃You　are　quite　romantic　on　the　subject；　but　don't　people　make　such　matches　in　France？〃

〃Ah；　non；　Madame；　le　froid　calcul　dominates　there　at　such　times。　I　honour　the　beautiful　practice　that　is　common　in　votre　jeune　Amerique；　cela　rappelle　le　siecle　d'or。　Can　there　be　a　tableau　more　delicieux　than　a　couple　unis　under　such　circonstances？　The　happy　epoux；　a　young　man　perhaps；　of　forty；　and　la　femme　a　creature　angelique；〃　here　M。　Bonnet　cast　a　glance　at　Miss　Emmeline；　〃une　creature　angelique；　who　knows　that　he　adores　her；　and　who　says　to　him；　'mon　ami　je　t'aime；　je　veux　faire　ton　bonheur；'　and　who　bestows　on　him　her　whole　heart；　and　her　whole　fortune；　while　he；　of　course；　oppressed　with　gratitude；　labours　only　to　increase　that　fortune；　that　he　may　have　it　in　his　power　to　make　the　life　of　his　bien　aimee　beautiful　comme　un　jour　de　fete。〃

｛〃froid　calcul〃　=　cold　calculation；　〃votre　jeune。。。〃　=　your　young　America；　it　reminds　one　of　the　golden　age；　〃tableau　more　delicieux　than　a　couple　unis　under　such　circonstances〃　=　a　prettier　picture　than　a　couple　united　under　such　circumstances；　〃epoux〃　=　husband。　〃la　femme　a　creature　angelique〃　=　the　wife　an　angelic　creature；　〃mon　ami；　je　t'aime；　je　veux　faire　ton　bonheur〃　=　my　friend；　I　love　you；　I　wish　to　make　you　happy；　〃bien　aimee　beautiful　comme　un　jour　de　fete〃　=　beloved　as　beautiful　as　a　day　of　festival　（mixed　French　and　English）｝

〃You　are　eloquent；　Mr。　Bonnet。〃

〃N'est　ce　pas　un　sujet；　Madame；　to　toucher　le　coeur　de　l'homme　in　a　most　delicate　point；　a　man　who　could　be　insensible　to　such　delicacy；　to　such　aimable　tendresse；　would　be　no　better　than　one　of　your　sauvages；　one　of　your　Mohicans！〃

｛〃N'est　ce　pas　un　sujet；　Madame；　to　toucher　le　coeur　de　l'homme。。。〃　=　Is　this　not　a　subject；　Madame；　which　touches　the　heart　of　man。。。；　〃to　such　aimable　tendresse〃　=　to　such　pleasant　affection　（mixed　French　and　English）｝

〃Well；　I　don't　think　so　much　of　it；　because　it　is　very　common　here；　such　matches　happen　every　day。〃

〃And　who　are　the　happy　couple　you　refer　to　at　present？〃

〃'Tis　a　young　gentleman　of　New　York　city；　Mr。　Roberts；　who　is　going　to　marry　a　young　lady；　whose　father　is　a　neighbour　of　pa's。〃

〃And　what　is　the　sum　the　young　lady　has　bestowed　upon　her　grateful　adorateur？〃

〃Oh；　the　lady　has　not　anything　to　bestow　in　this　case；　it　is　the　gentleman；　who　is　very　wealthy；　and　doing　a　very　handsome　business　in　New　York。〃

〃Ah；〃　said　M。　Bonnet；　taking　a　pinch　of　snuff；　〃that　is　not　so　interesting　I　think；　as　when　the　mari　is　the　favoured　party。　The　heart　of　man　is　more　susceptible　of　lasting　gratitude　for　un　tel　bienfait。〃

｛〃mari〃　=　husband；　〃un　tel　bienfait〃　=　such　a　favor　（French）｝

〃The　gentleman　has　all　the　money；　this　time；　I　don't　think　Mary　Van　Horne　will　have　a　cent；　do　you；　Miss　Wyllys？〃

But　Elinor　was　gone。　As　the　Baron　appeared；　however；　Mrs。　Hilson　did　not　regret　it。

〃Ah；　Baron；　I　thought　you　were　never　coming。　You　ought　to　be　much　obliged　to　me；　for　I　had　just　told　Monsieur　Bonnet；　we　must　not　move　till　the　Baron　comes；　the　Baron　will　not　know　where　to　find　us。〃



CHAPTER　VII。　｛XXX｝

〃They　sit　conferring　。〃　Taming　the　Shrew。

｛William　Shakespeare；　〃The　Taming　of　the　Shrew〃；　V。ii。102｝

THE　usual　evening　circle　had　collected　in　Miss　Wyllys's　parlour；　with　the　addition　of　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　who　had　just　arrived　from　Poughkeepsie；　and　Mrs。　St。　Leger。　Miss　Emma　Taylor　had　gone　to　a　concert　with　her　good…natured　brother…in…law；　and　a　couple　of　her　admirers。　Jane　and　her　sister…in…law；　Adeline；　were　sitting　together　in　a　corner；　talking　partly　about　their　babies；　partly　about　what　these　two　young　matrons　called　〃old　times；〃　that　is　to　say；　events　which　had　transpired　as　far　back　as　three　or　four　years　previously。　To　them；　however；　those　were　〃old　times；〃　for；　since　then；　the　hopes　and　fears；　cares　and　pleasures；　of　the　two　friends　were　much　changed。

Among　the　rest　of　the　party　the　conversation　became　more　general；　for　Elinor　had　just　finished　a　song；　and　Mr。　Wyllys　had　just　beaten　Mrs。　Creighton　at　a　game　of　chess。

〃Mr。　Hazlehurst；　pray　what　have　you　done　with　my　saya　y　manto？〃　asked　the　pretty　widow；　taking　a　seat　at　the　side　of　Elinor；　on　a　sofa。　〃Here　have　you　been；　three；　four；　five　days；　and　I　have　not　even　alluded　to　it；　which；　you　must　observe　is　a　great　act　of　forbearance　in　a　lady；　when　there　is　a　piece　of　finery　in　question。〃

｛〃saya　y　manto〃　=　skirt　and　cloak　（Spanish）｝

〃I　am　really　ashamed　of　myself　for　not　having　reported　it　safe　at　Philadelphia；　before。　I　would　not　send　it　to　your　house；　when　I　heard　you　were　here；　for　I　wished　to　deliver　it　in　person；　and　I　did　not　bring　it　with　me；　because　Mrs。　Hazlehurst　told　me　it　was　too　warm　for　a　fashionable　lady　to　wear　anything　as　heavy　as　black　silk　for　the　next　three　months。〃

〃Well；　of　course　I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you　for　the　trouble　you　have　had　with　it；　but　I　shall　defer　thanking　you　formally；　until　I　find　out　whether　it　is　becoming　or　not。〃

〃Do　you　expect　to　make　a　very　captivating　Spaniard？〃　asked　Mr。　Stryker。

〃I　shall　do　my　best；　certainly；　but　I　shall　leave　you　to　decide　how　far　I　succeed；　Mr。　Stryker。　Are　the　Brazilian　women　pretty；　Mr。　Hazlehurst？what　do　they　look　like？〃

〃Very　like　Portuguese；〃　was　the　answer。

〃More　than　the　Americans　look　like　the　English？〃　inquired　Elinor。

〃Far　more；〃　said　Harry；　〃but　you　know　there　is　less　difference　between　the　climates　of　Brazil　and　Portugal；　than　between　ours　and　that　of　England。〃

〃For　my　part；〃　observed　Mr。　Ellsworth；　〃I　do　not　think　we　look　in　the　least　like　the　Englishneither　men　nor　women。　We　are　getting　very　fast　to　have　a　decided　physiognomy　of　our　own。　I　think　I　could　pick　out　an　American　from　among　a　crowd　of　Europeans；　almost　as　soon　as　I　could　a　Turk。〃

〃You　always　piqued　yourself；　Ellsworth；　upon　having　a　quick　eye　for　national　characteristics。　We　used　to　try　him　very　often；　when　we　were　in　Europe；　Mrs。　Creighton；　and　I　must　do　him　the　justice　to　say　he　seldom　failed。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　know　all　Frank's　opinions　on　the　subject；〃　replied　Mrs。　Creighton：　〃it　is　quite　a　hobby　with　him。〃

〃What　do　you　think　are　the　physical　characteristics　of　the　Americans；　as　compared　with　our　English　kinsmen？〃　inquired　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃We　are　a　darker；　a　thinner；　and　a　paler　people。　The　best　specimens　of　the　English　have　the　advantage　in　manliness　of　form　and　carriage；　the　American　is　superior　in　activity；　in　the　expression　of　intelligence　and　energy　in　the　countenance。　The　English　peculiarities　in　their　worst　shape　are；　coarseness　and　heaviness　of　form；　a　brutal；　dull　countenance；　the　worst　peculiarities　among　the　Americans　are；　an　apparent　want　of　substance　in　the　form；　and　a　cold；　cunning　expression　of　features。　I　used　often　to　wonder；　when　travelling　in　Europe；　particularly　in　France　and　Germany；　at　the　number　of　heavy　forms　and　coarse　features；　which　strike　one　so　often　there；　even　among　the　women；　and　which　are　so　very　uncommon　in　America。〃

〃Yes；　that　brutal　coarseness　of　features；　which　stood　for　the　model　of　the　old　Satyrs；　is　scarcely　to　be　met　in　this　country；　though　by　no　means　uncommon　in　many　parts　of　Europe；〃　observed　Hazlehurst。

〃I　was　very　much　struck　the　other　evening；　at　the　dance；　with　the　appearance　of　the　women；〃　continued　Mr。　Ellsworth。　〃Not　that　they　are　so　brilliant　in　their　beautyone　sees　beautiful　women　in　every　country；　but　they　are　so　peculiarly　feminine；　and　generally　pretty；　as　a　whole。　By　room…fulls；　en　masse；　they　appear　to　more　advantage　I　think；　than　any　other　women；　the　general　effect　is　very　seldom　broken　by　coarseness　of　face；　or　unmanageable　awkwardness　of　form。〃

〃Yes；　you　are　right；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker。　〃There　is　a　vast　deal　of　prettiness；　and　very　little　repulsive　ugliness　among　the　women　in　this　country。　But　it　strikes　me　they　are　inclining　a　little　too　much　to　the　idea；　just　now；　that　all　the　beauty　in　the　world　is　collected　in　these　United　States；　which；　as　we　all　know　is　rather　a　mistaken　opinion。〃

〃Certainly；　that　would　be　an　extremely　ridiculous　notion。〃

〃You　think　delicacy　then；　the　peculiar　characteristic　of　American　beauty？〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃Yes；　sir；　but　I　could　point　out　others；　too。　Brown　hair　and　hazel　eyes　are　another　common　feature　in　American　beauty。　If　you　look　over　the　pretty　women　of　your　acquaintance；　you　will　find　that　the　case　I　think。〃

〃Like　Mrs。　Creighton's；〃　said　Elinor；　smiling。

〃No；　Josephine's　features　are　not　sufficiently　regular　for　a　beauty；〃　said　her　brother；　good…naturedly。

〃I　shan't　get　a　compliment　from　Frank；　Miss　Wyllys；〃　replied　the　widow；　shaking　her　head。　〃I　agree　with　him；　though；　about　the　brown…haired　beauties；　for；　I　once　took　the　trouble　to　count　over　my　acquaintances；　and　I　found　a　great　many　that　answered　his　description。　I　think　it　the　predominating　colour　among　us。　I　am　certainly　included　in　the　brown　tribe　myself；　and　so　are　you；　Miss　Wyllys。〃

〃As　far　as　the　colour　of　my　hair　goes；〃　replied　Elinor；　with　a　smile　which　seemed　to　say；　talk　on；　I　have　no　feeling　on　the　subject　of　my　plain　face。　One　or　two　persons　present　had　actually　paused；　thinking　the　conversation　was　taking　an　unfortunate　turn；　as　one　of　the　ladies　present　was　undeniably　wanting　in　beauty。　To　encourage　the　natural　pursuit　of　the　subject；　Elinor　remarked　that；　〃light　hair　and　decidedly　blue　eyes；　like　Mrs。　St。　Leger's；　are　not　so　very　common；　certainly；　nor　true　black　hair　and　eyes　like　your's；　Jane。〃

〃You　are　almost　as　much　given　to　compliments；　Miss　Wyllys；　as　I　am；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton；　〃I　have　to　say　a　saucy　thing　now　and　then；　by　way　of　variety。〃

〃The　saucy　speeches　are　for　your　own　satisfaction；　no　doubt；　and　the　compliments　for　that　of　your　friends；　I　suppose；〃　replied　Elinor；　smiling　a　little　archly；　for　she　had　very　good　reasons　for　mistrusting　the　sincerity　of　either　mode　of　speech　from　the　lips　of　the　gay　widow；　whom；　for　that　very　reason；　she　liked　much　less　than　her　brother。

〃Do　you　really　think　me　too　severe？wait　till　we　are　better　acquainted！〃

〃I　shall　always　think　you　very　charming；〃　replied　Elinor；　with　her　usual　frank　smile；　for；　in　fact；　she　admired　Mrs。　Creighton　quite　as　much　as　the　rest　of　the　world。　And　then　observing　that　Mr。　Ellsworth　was　listening　to　their　conversation；　she　turned　to　him　and　asked；　if　the　true　golden　hair；　so　much　admired　by　the　Italian　poets；　and　so　often　sung　by　them；　were　still