elinor wyllys-2-第18章

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ch　canals；　a　view　of　the　Seine；　in　the　heart　of　Paris；　and　the　Thames；　at　London；　the　dirty；　famous　Tiber；　classic　Arno；　and　classic　Avon。〃

〃You　make　our　eyes　water；　Charlie；　with　such　a　catalogue；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃You　must　certainly　get　up　an　exhibition；　and　add　several　of　your　American　pictures　to　those　you　have　just　brought　home。〃

〃I　really　hope　you　will　do　so；〃　said　Elinor。　〃The　transparent　amber…like　water　of　the　Canada；　and　the　emerald　colour　of　Niagara；　would　appear　finely　in　such　a　collection。〃

｛〃Canada〃　=　from　the　context；　probably　Trenton　Falls　on　the　West　Canada　Creek；　a　major　tourist　attraction　during　the　19th　century｝

〃I　shall　never　dare　attempt　Niagara；〃　exclaimed　Charlie。　〃All　the　beauties　of　all　the　other　waters　in　the　world　are　united　there。　It　will　not　do　to　go　beyond　the　rapids；　I　should　be　lost　if　I　but　ventured　to　the　edge　of　the　whirlpool　itself。〃

〃I　have　no　doubt　you　will　try　it　yet；〃　said　Harry。

The　young　artist　shook　his　head。　〃I　am　sometimes　disposed　to　throw　aside　the　brush　in　disgust；　at　the　temerity　of　man；　which　can　attempt　to　copy　even　what　is　most　noble；　in　the　magnificent　variety；　and　the　simple　grandeur　of　nature。〃

〃You　have　been　sufficiently　successful　in　what　you　have　attempted　hitherto；〃　said　Harry。　〃I　saw　your　view　of　Lake　Ontario；　in　Philadelphia；　just　after　I　arrived；　and　I　can　never　forget　the　impression　it　produced　on　me。　Of　all　your　pictures　that　I　have　seen；　that　is　my　favourite。〃

〃It　is　indeed　a　noble　picture；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃And　few　men　but　yourself；　Charlie；　could　have　given　so　deep　an　interest　to　a　broad　field　of　water；　with　only　a　strip　of　common…place　shore　in　the　fore…ground；　and　a　bank　of　clouds　in　the　distance。　A　common　painter　would　have　thrown　in　some　prettiness　of　art；　that　would　have　ruined　it；　but　you　have　given　it　a　simple　dignity　that　is　really　wonderful！〃　said　Hazlehurst。

〃You　mortify　me；〃　said　Charlie；　〃it　is　so　much　inferior　to　what　I　could　wish。〃

〃Captain　C…；〃　continued　Harry；　〃who　was　stationed　at　Oswego　for　several　years；　told　me　he　should　have　known　your　picture　without　the　name；　for　a　view　of　one　of　the　great　lakes；　there　was　so　much　truth　in　the　colour　and　movement　of　the　water；　so　much　that　was　different　from　the　Ocean。〃

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　it　is　cruel　in　you　to　flatter　a　poor　young　artist　at　this　rate；〃　said　Charlie。

〃If　it　is　criticism　you　want；〃　said　Hazlehurst；　〃I　can　give　you　a　dose。　You　were　very　severely　handled　in　my　presence；　a　day　or　two　since；　and　on　the　very　subject　of　your　picture　of　Lake　Ontario。〃

〃Pray；　let　me　hear　the　criticism；　it　will　sober　me。〃

〃What　was　the　fault？〃　said　Elinor；　〃what　was　wanting？〃

〃A　few　houses　and　a　steamboat；　to　make　it　lively。〃

〃You　are　making　up　a　good　story；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton；　laughing。

〃I　give　you　the　critic's　words　verbatim。　I　really　looked　at　the　young　lady　in　astonishment；　that　she　should　see　nothing　but　a　want　of　liveliness　in　a　picture；　which　most　of　us　feel　to　be　sublime。　But　Miss　L…　had　an　old　grudge　against　you；　for　not　having　made　her　papa's　villa　sufficiently　prominent　in　your　view　of　Hell…Gate。〃

〃But；　such　a　villa！〃　said　Hubbard。　〃One　of　the　ugliest　within　ten　miles　of　New　York。　It　is　possible；　sometimes；　by　keeping　at　a　distance；　concealing　defects；　and　partially　revealing　columns　through　verdure；　to　make　one　of　our　Grecian…temple　houses　appear　to　advantage　in　a　landscape；　but；　really；　Mr。　D…'s　villa　was　such　a　jumble；　so　entirely　out　of　all　just　proportion；　that　I　could　do　nothing　with　it；　and　was　glad　to　find　that　I　could　put　a　grove　between　the　spectator　and　the　building：　anybody　but　its　inmates　would　have　preferred　the　trees。〃

〃Not　at　all；　Miss　D…　thought　the　absence　of　the　portico；　with　its　tall；　pipe…stem　columns；　the　row　of　dormer　windows　on　the　roof；　and　the　non…descript　belvidere　crowning　all；　a　loss　to　the　public。〃

｛〃belvidere〃　=　as　used　here；　a　raised　turret　on　top　of　a　house　（Italian）｝

〃The　miserable　architecture　of　this　country　is　an　obstacle　to　a　landscape　painter；　quite　too　serious　to　be　trifled　with；　I　can　assure　you；〃　said　Charlie。

〃It　must　be　confessed；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth；　〃that　the　order　of　things　has　been　reversed　here。　Architecture　is　usually　called　the　parent　of　the　fine　arts；　but　with　us　she　is　the　youngest　of　the　family；　and　as　yet　the　worst　endowed。　We　had　respectable　pictures；　long　before　we　had　a　single　building　in　a　really　good　style；　and　now　that　we　have　some　noble　paintings　and　statuary；　architecture　still　lags　behind。　What　a　noise　they　made　in　New　York；　only　a　few　years　since；　about　St。　Thomas's　Church！〃

｛St。　Thomas's　Church〃　=　St。　Thomas　Episcopal　Church　was　erected　at　the　corner　of　Broadway　and　Houston　Street；　in　New　York　City；　in　1826；　in　the　Gothic　style　which　was　only　beginning　to　replace　the　Greek　Revival。　Susan　Fenimore　Cooper　shared　her　father's　dislike　of　Greek　Revival　houses　that　imitated　Grecian　temples；　and　his　love　of　the　Gothic｝

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker；　〃the　curse　of　the　genius　of　architecture；　which　Jefferson　said　had　fallen　upon　this　country；　has　not　yet　been　removed。〃

〃Some　of　the　most　ludicrous　objects　I　have　ever　laid　my　eyes　on；〃　said　Hazlehurst；　〃have　been　pretending　houses；　and；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　churches　too；　in　the　interior　of　the　country；　chiefly　in　the　would…be　Corinthian　and　Composite　styles。　They　set　every　rule　of　good　taste　and　good　sense　at　defiance；　and　look；　withal；　so　unconscious　of　their　absurdity；　that　the　effect　is　as　thoroughly　ridiculous；　as　if　it　had　been　the　object　of　the　architect　to　make　them　so。〃

〃For　reason　good；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys；　〃because　they　are　wanting　in　simplicity　and　full　of　pretension；　and　pretension　is　the　root　of　all　absurdity。〃

They　had　now　reached　the　spot　Charlie　had　selected　for　his　picture；　the　young　artist　pointed　it　out　to　Miss　Wyllys；　who　was　in　the　other　boat。

〃This　is　the　spot　I　have　chosen；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　hope　you　will　agree　with　me　in　liking　the　position；　it　commands　some　of　the　finest　points　on　the　lake：　that　is　the　Black　mountain　in　the　back…ground。〃

His　friends　admired　his　choice；　acknowledging　that　the　view　was　one　of　the　most　beautiful　they　had　seen。

〃It　must　be　difficult　to　choose；　where　every　view　is　charming；〃　said　Elinor。　〃How　beautiful　those　little　islands　are；　so　much　variety；　and　all　so　pleasing！〃

〃You　will　see　hundreds　of　them；　Miss　Wyllys；　when　you　have　been　over　the　lake；〃　said　Hubbard。

〃There　are　just　three　hundred　and　sixty…five；　marm；〃　added　one　of　the　boatmen；　the　guide　of　the　party；　〃one　for　every　day　in　the…year。〃

〃This　must　be　May…day　island；〃　said　Elinor；　pointing　to　an　islet　quite　near　them。　〃This　one；　half　wood；　half　meadow；　which　shows　so　many　flowers。〃

〃May…day　island　it　shall　be　for　the　next　six　weeks；〃　said　Charlie；　smiling。　〃I　have　chosen　it　for　another　view。〃

〃Well；　good　people！〃　exclaimed　Robert　Hazlehurst；　from　the　other　boat；　〃you　may　be　feasting　on　the　beauties　of　nature；　but　some　of　us　have　more　substantial　appetites！　Miss　Wyllys　is　a　little　fatigued；　Mr。　Stryker　all　impatient　to　get　out　his　handsome　fishing…rod；　and　your　humble　servant　very　hungry；　indeed！〃

As　they　had　been　loitering　about　for　several　hours；　it　was　agreed　that　they　should　now　land；　and　prepare　to　lunch。

〃We　will　put　into　port　at　May…day　island；〃　said　Charlie；　〃I　have　been　there　several　times；　and　there　is　a　pretty；　grassy　bank；　where　we　may　spread　a　table…cloth。〃

They　soon　reached　the　little　island　pointed　out　by　Elinor；　and　having　landed　with　their　baskets　of　provisions；　the　meal　was　prepared；　and　only　waiting　for　the　fish　which　Mr。　Stryker　had　promised　to　catch；　and　for　a　supply　of　salt　which　one　of　the　boatmen　had　gone　for；　to　a　farm…house　on　the　shore；　this　necessary　having　been　forgotten；　when　the　provisions　were　laid　in。　There　never　was　a　pic…nic　yet；　where　nothing　was　forgotten。

Mr。　Stryker　soon　prepared　himself　for　action；　he　was　a　famous　fisherman；　and　quite　as　proud　of　his　rod　as　of　his　reputation；　which　were　both　Dublin…made；　he　said；　and；　therefore；　perfect　in　their　way。　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Mrs。　Creighton　admired　the　apparatus　contained　in　his　ebony　walking…stick；　to　the　owner's　full　satisfaction：　he　had　a　great　deal　to　say　about　its　perfections；　the　beauty　of　his　flies；　the　excellence　of　his　hooks　and　lines；　and　so　forth；　and　the　ladies　in　general；　Mrs。　Creighton　especially；　listened　as　flatteringly　as　the　gentleman　could　desire。　As　he　was　to　supply　the　perch　for　luncheon；　however；　he　was　obliged　to　begin　his　labours；　and　taking　a　boat；　he　rowed　off　a　stone's　throw　from　the　shore。　In　turning　a　little　point；　he　was　surprised；　by　coming　suddenly　upon　a　brother　fisherman：　in　a　rough；　leaky　boat；　with　a　common　old　rod　in　his　hand；　sat　our　acquaintance；　Mr。　Hopkins；　wearing　the　usual　rusty　coat；　his　red　silk　handkerchief　spread　on　his　knee；　an　open　snuff…box　on　one　side　of　him；　a　dirty　tin　pail　on　the　other。　The　party　on　shore　were　not　a　little　amused　by　the　contrast　in　the　appearance；　manners；　and　equipments　of　the　two　fishermen；　the　fastidious　Mr。　Stryker；　so　complete；　from　his　grey　blouse　to　his　fishing…basket；　the　old　merchant；　quite　independent　of　everything　like　fashion；　whether　alone　on　Lake　George；　or　among　the　crowd　in　Wall…Street。　Charlie；　who　did　not　know　him；　said　that　he　had　met　the　same　individual　on　the　lake；　at　all　hours；　and　in　all　weathers；　during　the　past　week；　he　seemed　devoted　to　fishing；　heart　and　soul；　having　left　the　St。　Legers　at　Saratoga；　and　come　on　to　Lake　George　immediately；　to　enjoy　his　favourite　pastime。　It　was　a　pleasure　to　see　how　honestly　and　earnestly　he　was　engaged　in　his　pursuit：　as　for　Mr。　Stryker；　we　strongly　suspect　that　his　fancy　for　fishing　was　an　acquired　taste；　like　most　of　those　he　cherished；　we　very　much　doubt　whether　he　would　ever　have　been　a　follower　of　Izaak　Walton；　had　there　not　been　a　fashionable　accoutrement　for　brothers　of　the　rod；　at　the　present　day。

｛〃Isaak　Walton〃　=　Isaak　Walton　（1593…1683）；　author　of　〃The　Compleat　Angler〃｝

Several　of　the　ladies　also　fished　for　half　an　hour；　Mrs。　Creighton　begging　for　a　seat　in　Mr。　Stryker's　boat；　that　she　might　profit　by　his　instructions。　While　they　were　out；　a　small　incident　occurred；　which　amused　the　spectators　not　a　little。　Mrs。　Creighton　had　risen；　to　look　at　a　fish　playing　about　Mr。　Stryker's　line；　when　she　accidentally　dropped　a　light　shawl；　which　fell　from　her　arm　into　the　water；　an　involuntary　movement　she　made　as　it　fell；　also　threw　a　basket　of　her　companion's　flies　overboard；　at　the　same　instant：　he　had　just　been　showing　them　off。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Stryker；　my　shawl！〃　exclaimed　the　lady。

But　the　fashionable　fisherman　was　already　catching　eagerly　at　his　own　precious　flies；　he　succeeded　in　regaining　the　basket；　and　then；　bethinking　him　of　his　reputation　for　gallantry；　turned　to　Mrs。　Creighton；　to　rescue　the　shawl；　but　he　had　the　mortification　to　see　old　Mr。　Hopkins　already　stretching　out　an　arm　with　the　cachemere；　which　he　had　caught　almost　as　soon　as　it　touched　the　water；　and　now　offered　to　its　fair　owner；　with　the　good…natured　hope　that　it　had　not　been　injured；　as　it　was　hardly　wet。　The　lady　received　it　very　graciously；　and　bestowed　a　very　sweet　smile　on　the　old　merchant；　while　Mr。　Stryker；　quite　nettled　at　his　own　flagrant　misdemeanour；　had　to　face　a　frown　from　the　ch