elinor wyllys-2-第3章

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When　Charlie　had　read　the　usual　evening　chapter　in　the　Bible；　and　had　received　his　mother's　kiss　and　blessing；　he　laid　himself　down　with　a　thankful　heart；　in　the　little　garret…room；　as　in　his　childish　years。　The　young　artist's　dreams　that　night；　were　a　mingled　crowd　of　fancies；　the　memories　of　his　boyhood　reviving　in　their　old　haunts；　accompanied　by　more　recent　images　brought　from　beyond　the　Ocean；　and　linked　with　half…formed　plans　and　ideas　for　the　future。　Among　these　visions　of　the　night；　were　two　more　distinct　than　the　rest；　one　was　a　determination　to　commence；　the　very　next　morning；　a　copy　of　his　honoured　father's　portrait；　in　which　the　artist's　object　was　unusual；　for　it　was　his　chief　aim　to　make　it　as　little　like　the　original　before　him；　as　possible。　Shall　we　reveal　the　fact　that　another　image；　wearing　a　gentler　aspect　than　the　stern；　rigid　features　of　the　minister's　portrait；　seemed　to　flit　before　the　young　painter's　fancy；　coming　unbidden；　and　mingling　more　especially　with　recollections　of　the　past？　As　a　ray　of　moonlight　stole　into　the　low　dormer…window；　the　young　man　turned　on　his　humble　bed；　a　sigh　burst　from　his　lips；　followed　by　the　words；　〃No；　no！〃

We　shall　keep　the　secret。



CHAPTER　II　｛XXV｝

〃Yonder；　sure；　they　are　coming。〃　As　You　Like　It。

｛William　Shakespeare；　〃As　You　Like　It〃；　I。ii。147｝

THE　weather　had　been　more　than　usually　warm　for　several　weeks；　and　the　morning　after　Charlie's　return　to　Longbridge；　when　the　steamboat　North　America　left　the　wharf　at　New…York；　her　decks　and　cabins　were　filled　by　some　five　or　six　hundred　passengers。　There　were　men；　women；　and　children；　of　various　characters；　colours　and　conditions。　The　scene　on　deck　was　pleasing　and　cheerful；　the　day　was　lovely；　the　steamer　looked　neat　and　bright；　and　the　great　majority　of　the　females　were　gaily　dressed　in　their　summer　attire；　most　of　the　faces　looked　good…humoured；　as　if　pleased　to　escape　from　the　heat　and　confinement　of　the　town；　to　cooler　air；　and　a　sight　of　the　water　and　green　woods。　One　might　have　supposed　it　a　party　of　pleasure　on　a　large　scale；　in　fact；　Americans　seem　always　good…natured；　and　in　a　pleasant　mood　when　in　motion；　such　is　their　peculiar　temperament。　The　passengers　on　board　the　North　America　soon　began　to　collect　in　knots；　family…groups；　or　parties　of　acquaintance；　some　chatting；　some　reading；　some　meditating。　There　was　one　difficulty；　however；　want　of　space　to　move　about　in；　or　want　of　seats　for　some　of　those　who　were　stationary。

After　the　boat　had　fairly　begun　her　trip；　and　people　had　settled　themselves　as　well　as　they　could；　according　to　their　different　fancies；　a　pretty　little　woman　appeared　at　the　door　of　the　ladies'　cabin。　In　her　light　hair；　and　somewhat　insipid　face；　encased　in　an　extremely　fashionable　hat；　we　recognise　Mrs。　Hilson。　Turning　towards　a　gentleman　who　seemed　waiting　near　the　door　for　her；　she　addressed　him。

〃Now；　Monsieur　Bonnet；　do　exert　your　gallantry；　and　find　me　a　seat　on　deck。　The　cabin　is　intolerably　warm；　I　cannot　stay　here；where　are　Emmeline　and　the　Baron？〃　

〃You　see；　Madame；〃　he　said；　pointing　towards　the　couple；　〃Montbrun　take　a　tabouret　at　once；　when　we　come　on　board；　and　Mademoiselle　Emmeline　now　has　it。　It　was　very　maladroit　in　me　not　to　keep　one　for　you；　I　beg　a　t'ousand　pardons。〃

｛〃tabouret〃　=　a　stool；　〃maladroit〃　=　careless　（French）｝

〃Haven't　you　got　a　seat；　that　is　a　pity。　But　I　dare　say　you　can　easily　find　one。〃

〃Vraiment；　ma　chere　Madame　EEL…sun；　there　is　no　sacrifice　I　would　not　make　to　procure　you　one。　I　am　desole　it　should　be　impossible。　I　have　been　looking；　but　all　the　tabourets　and　chair　are　taken　by　ladies　and　gentlemans。　You　have　a　drole　de　maniere　of　travel　in　this　countree；　so　many　people　together；　the　ladies　must　be　victimes　sometime。〃

｛〃Vraiment；　ma　chere。。。〃　=　truly；　my　dear。。。；　〃drole　de　maniere〃　=　funny　way　（French）｝

〃Oh；　no；　you　don't　know　how　to　manage；　that　is　all。　Has　not　the　Baron　a　chair？〃

〃Non；　Madame；　you　see　he　is　debout。〃

｛〃debout〃　=　standing　（French）｝

〃Well；　there　are　some　gentlemen　seated；　I　see　three　or　fourone　quite　near　you。　Ask　him　for　his　chair。〃

The　Frenchman　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　looked　bewildered。

〃Pray；　ask　that　gentleman　for　his　chair；〃　repeated　the　lady；　pointing　with　her　parasol　to　a　person　sitting　at　no　great　distance。

〃But；　Madame；　the　gentleman　will　not　know　what　a　charming　lady　wish　for　the　chairhe　will　not　give　it。〃

〃Oh；　no　danger；　if　you　tell　him　it　is　for　a　lady；　of　course　he　will　let　you　have　it。　Why；　how　slow　you　are　about　it；　you　are　almost　as　bad　as　Captain　Kockney；　who　never　did　anything　when　he　was　asked。〃

〃Ah；　Madame；　de　graces　do　not　say　that！I　go。〃

｛〃de　graces〃　=　please　（French）｝

And　Monsieur　Bonnet；　edging　his　way　here　and　there　behind　the　ladies；　and　begging　ten　thousand　pardons；　at　length　reached　the　person　Mrs。　Hilson　had　pointed　out　to　him。

〃What　did　you　say？〃　exclaimed　this　individual；　looking　up　rather　gruffly；　at　being　addressed　by　an　utter　stranger。

〃Mille　pardons；　Monsieur；〃　continued　Monsieur　Bonnet；　〃a　lady　is　very　much　oppressed　with　fatigue；　and　send　me　to　beg　you　will　be　aimable　to　give　her　your　chair。〃

｛〃mille　pardons〃　=　excuse　me；　〃aimable〃　=　obliging　enough　（French）｝

〃What　is　it？〃　repeated　the　man；　who　looked　like　an　Englishman；　〃I　don't　understand　you。〃

Monsieur　Bonnet　again　urged　his　request；　in　terms　still　more　civil。　It　would　be　rendering　a　very　great　service　to　the　lady；　he　said。

〃I　am　not　acquainted　with　the　lady；　I　advise　you　to　look　for　an　empty　chair；〃　replied　the　other；　resolutely　turning　his　face　in　an　opposite　direction。

Monsieur　Bonnet　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　was　moving　towards　Mrs。　Hilson　au　desespoir；　when　a　gentlemanly…looking　man；　who　was　seated；　reading；　not　far　from　the　Englishman；　rose　and　quietly　offered　his　bench　for　the　use　of　the　lady。　Monsieur　Bonnet　was；　of　course；　all　gratitude；　and　returned　enchante　to　Mrs。　Hilson；　who　took　the　matter　very　quietly；　while　M。　Bonnet　seemed　surprised　at　his　own　success。

｛〃au　desespoir〃　=　in　despair；　〃enchante〃　=　delighted　（French）｝

The　gentleman　who　had　given　up　his　seat；　was　obliged　to　continue　standing；　shutting　up　his　book；　he　began　to　look　about　him；　among　the　crowd；　for　acquaintances。　There　was　a　very　gay；　noisy　party；　at　no　great　distance；　which　first　attracted　his　attention；　it　consisted　of　two　pretty　young　women　in　the　centre　of　a　group　of　men。　The　shrill　voice　and　rattling　laugh　of　one　lady；　might　be　very　distinctly　heard　across　the　deck；　the　other　was　leaning　back　listlessly　in　her　chair：　one　of　the　young　men　was　reading　a　paper　with　a　sort　of　family　expression；　as　if　the　ladies　were　his　near　connexions；　and；　on　a　chair；　at　the　side　of　the　silent　lady；　sat　an　old　gentleman；　with　a　very　rusty　coat；　snuffy　nose；　and　a　red　handkerchief　spread　on　one　knee；　while　on　the　other　he　held　a　pretty　little　boy；　about　two　years　old。

〃I　tell　you　I　know　she　was　dead　in　love　with　him！〃　cried　the　rattling　young　lady；　at　the　top　of　her　voice。　Then；　observing　the　gentleman；　who　was　looking　in　that　direction；　she　bowed　with　a　coquettish　graciousness。　The　bow　was　returned；　but　the　gentleman　did　not　seem　very　anxious　to　approach　the　party；　when　the　young　lady；　beckoning　with　her　finger；　obliged　him　to　draw　near。

〃Now；　Mr。　Ellsworth；　you　are　just　the　man　I　wanted。　Three　of　these　gentlemen　are　against　me；　I　have　only　one　on　my　side；　and　I　want　you　to　help　me　to　fight　the　battle。〃

〃Must　I　enlist；　Miss　Taylor；　before　I　know　whether　the　cause　is　good　or　bad？〃

〃Oh；　certainly；　or　else　you　are　not　worth　a　cent。　But　I'll　tell　you　how　the　matter　stands：　you　know　Helen　de　Vaux　and　you　were　at　the　Springs；　last　summer；　when　she　and　Mr。　Van　Alstyne　were　there。　Well；　I　say　she　was　dead　in　love　with　him；　though　she　did　refuse　him。〃

〃Was　she？〃　replied　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃Why；　I　know　she　was；　it　was　as　plain　as　a　pike…staff　to　everybody　who　saw　them　together。　And　here；　these　good　folks　provoke　me　so；　they　say　if　she　refused　him　she　did　not　care　for　him；　and　here　is　my　ridiculous　brother…in…law；　Mr。　St。　Leger；　says　I　don't　know　anything　about　it；　and　my　sister　Adeline　always　thinks　just　as　her　husband　does。〃

〃That's　quite　right；　my　dear；〃　said　the　rusty　Mr。　Hopkins；　taking　a　pinch　of　snuff。　〃I　hope　you　will　follow　her　example　one　of　these　days。〃

〃What　are　the　precise　symptoms　of　a　young　lady's　being　dead　in　love？〃　asked　the　quiet；　business…looking　Theodore　St。　Leger。

〃Oh；　you　know　well　enough　what　I　mean。　You　may　say　what　you　please　about　Helen　de　Vaux　not　caring　for　him；　I　know　better；〃　continued　the　young　lady；　in　a　voice　that　might　be　heard　on　the　other　side　of　the　boat。

〃As　Miss　de　Vaux's　mother　is　on　board；　suppose　you　refer　the　question　to　her；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth；　in　a　dry　manner。

〃Is　she？I　hope　she　didn't　hear　us；〃　continued　the　young　lady；　lowering　her　voice　half　a　tone。　〃But　you　need　not　ask　her；　though；　for　I　don't　believe　her　mother　knows　anything　about　it。〃

〃You　are　going　to　the　Springs；　I　suppose；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth；　by　way　of　changing　the　conversation。

〃I　wish　we　were！　No；　Adeline　has　taken　it　into　her　head　to　be　romantic；　for　the　first　time　in　her　life。　She　says　we　must　go　to　the　Falls；　and　it　will　be　a　fortnight　lost　from　Saratoga。〃

〃But；　have　you　no　wish　to　see　Niagara？〃

〃Not　a　bit；　and　I　don't　believe　Adeline　has；　either。　But　it　is　no　wonder　she　doesn't　care　about　the　Springs；　now　she's　married；　she　began　to　go　there　four　years　before　I　did。〃

〃Have　you　never　been　to　Niagara；　Mrs。　St。　Leger？〃　continued　Mr。　Ellsworth；　addressing　the　elder　sister；　who；　from　the　giddy；　belleish　Adeline；　was　now　metamorphosed　into　the　half…sober　young　matronthe　wife　of　an　individual；　who　in　spite　of　the　romantic　appellation　of　Theodore　St。　Leger；　was　a　very　quiet；　industrious　business…man；　the　nephew　and　adopted　son　of　Mr。　Hopkins；　Adeline's　Boston　escort。　She　had　been　sitting　contentedly　beside　the　old　gentleman；　for　the　last　half　hour；　leaving　her　unmarried　sister　to　entertain　the　beaux；　according　to　etiquette。

〃No；　I　have　never　been　to　the　Falls；　and　all　our　party　but　my　sister　Emma；　seemed　to　think　it　would　be　a　pleasant　jaunt。〃

〃Mr。　Hopkins　has　entered　into　an　engagement　to　supply　me　with　at　least　two　beaux　at　a　time；　and　a　regular　change　all　the　way　to　Niagara；　or　else　I　shouldn't　have　come；〃　said　Miss　Emma。

〃We　are　engaged　at　least　by　the　day；　I　hope；〃　interposed　one　of　the　attendant　young　men。

〃No；　indeed；　I　should　be　tired　to　death　of　you；　for　more　than　an　hour　at　a　time。　I　sha'n't　speak　to　YOU　again；　until　we　have　passed　West　Point。〃

〃I　have　had　no　trouble　as　yet；　my　dear；　in　picking　up　recruits；〃　said　Mr。　Hopkins；　whose　attention　seemed　equally　divided　between　his　snuff…box；　and　the　little　Hopkins；　junior；　on　his　kneehis　great…nephew。

〃If　there　are　two；　that's　all　I　care　for；　but　I　hate　to　have　only　one　person　to　talk　to。〃

Mr。　Ellsworth　bit　his　lips；　to　prevent　their　expressing　his　opinion；　that　the　young　lady　must　always　have　a　large　circle　of　listeners。

〃Have　you　seen　Mr。　Wyllys's　party　this　morning？〃　inquired　Adeline。

〃The　Wyllyses！Are　they　on　board？〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Ellsworth；　with　surprise　and　pleasure。　〃I　thought　them　at　Saratoga　by　this　time。〃

〃Oh；　no；　they　are　somewhere　on　the　other　side　of　the　boat；　my　sister…in