elinor wyllys-2-第31章

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tlemen　think　it　safe　to　admit　a　lady。　Frank　has　a　very　bad　habit　of　never　trusting　me　with　his　business　matters；　Miss　Wyllys；　we　must　cure　him　of　that。〃　

〃I　am　inclined　to　think；　Mrs。　Creighton；　your　patience　would　scarcely　hear　the　recital　of　even　one　case　of　Richard　Roe　versus　John　Doe；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃Perhaps　not；　for　I　care　not　a　straw　for　Richard　Roe；　or　John　Doe；　either。〃

〃Would　you　really　like　to　see　the　account　which　this　newcomer　gives　of　himself？〃　asked　Hazlehurst。

〃Certainly；　I　speak　seriously；　I　assure　you。〃

〃You　shall　see　it　this　evening；〃　said　Harry。　〃I　think　you　will　agree　with　me；　that　it　is　a　strange　story。〃

〃But；　Mrs。　Creighton；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys；　〃we　have　had　our　heads　so　full　of　law；　and　conspiracies；　and　impostors；　lately；　that　I　was　in　hopes　you　would　bring　us　something　more　agreeable　to　think　and　talk　about。　What　were　the　people　doing　at　Nahant　when　you　left　there？〃

〃It　was　very　dull　there；　at　least　I　thought　so；　I　was　in　a　great　hurry　for　Frank　to　bring　me　away。〃

〃What　was　wanting；　pray？〃　asked　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃Was　it　the　fault　of　the　weather；　the　water；　or　the　company？〃

〃Of　all　together；　sir；　nothing　was　of　the　right　kind；　it　was　not　half　so　pleasant　as　Saratoga　this　year。　Even　the　flirtations　were　not　as　amusing　as　usual。〃

〃I　should　have　thought　you　might　have　been　amused　in　some　other　way；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃Flirtation；　I　would　have　you　believe；　my　good　brother；　is　sometimes　quite　an　agreeable　and　exciting　pastime。〃

〃Faute　de　mieux；〃　said　Harry；　smiling。

｛〃faute　de　mieux〃　=　for　want　of　anything　better　（French）｝

〃You　surprise　me；　Josephine；　by　saying　so；　as　you　are　no　flirt　yourself；〃　observed　her　brother；　with　a　perfectly　honest　and　natural　expression。

〃Well；　I　don't　know；　certainly　I　never　flirt　intentionally；　but　I　won't　be　sure　my　spirits　have　not　carried　me　away　sometimes。　Have　you　never；　Miss　Wyllys；　in　moments　of　gaiety　or　excitement；　said　more　than　you　intended　to？〃

〃Have　I　never　flirted；　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Elinor；　smiling。

〃But　though　you　say　it　yourself；　I　don't　believe　you　are　a　bit　of　a　flirt；　Mrs。　Creighton；〃　said　the　unsuspicious　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃Oh；　no；　sir；　I　would　not　have　you　believe　me　a　regular　flirt　for　the　world。　I　only　acknowledge　to　a　little　trifling；　now　and　then。　Miss　Wyllys　knows　what　I　mean；　we　women　are　more　observant　of　each　other。　Now；　haven't　you　suspected　me　of　flirting　more　than　once？〃

〃You　had　better　ask　me；〃　said　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　〃Elinor　is　not　half　suspicious　enough。〃

〃The　acquittal　of　the　gentlemen　ought　to　satisfy　you；〃　said　Elinor。　〃They　are　supposed　to　be　the　best　judges。　Are　you　sure；　however；　that　you　did　not　flirt　with　Mr。　Hopkins？he　was　at　Nahant　with　you；　I　believe。〃

〃I　am　afraid　it　surpasses　the　power　of　woman　to　distract　Mr。　Hopkins's　attention　from　a　sheepshead　or　a　paugee。〃

｛〃sheepshead〃　and　〃paugee〃　（porgy）　=　names　applied　to　a　number　of　American　fish　esteemed　by　anglers｝

〃You　have　really　a　very　pretty　view　here；　Miss　Wyllys；　although　there　is　nothing　bold　or　commanding　in　the　country；　it　makes　a　very　pleasant　home　picture；〃　observed　Mr。　Ellsworth；　who　had　been　looking　about　him。　〃That　reach　in　the　river　has　a　very　good　effect；　the　little　hamlet；　too；　looks　well　in　the　distance；　and　the　wood　and　meadow　opposite；　are　as　well　placed　as　one　could　wish。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　like　it；　but　we　really　think　that；　for　such　simple　scenery；　it　is　uncommonly　pretty；〃　replied　Elinor。

〃Yes；　even　your　fastidious　friend；　Mr。　Stryker；　pronounced　the　landscape　about　Wyllys…Roof　to　be　very　well　put　together；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。

〃Mr。　Stryker；　however；　professes　to　have　no　eye　for　anything　of　the　kind；〃　replied　Elinor。

〃That　is　only　one　of　the　man's　affectations；　his　eyes　are　more　like　those　of　other　people　than　he　is　willing　to　confess。　Though　Mr。　Stryker　pretends　to　be　one　of　your　men　of　the　world；　whose　notions　are　all　practical；　yet　one　soon　discovers　that　he　cherishes　his　useless　foibles；　like　other　people；〃　said　the　lady；　with　an　air　of　careless　frankness；　though　intending　the　speech　for　the　benefit　of　Hazlehurst　and　Mr。　Wyllys；　who　both　stood　near　her。

〃Perhaps　you　don't　know　that　Mr。　Stryker　has　preceded　you　into　our　neighbourhood；〃　said　Mary　Van　Alstyne。　〃He　is　staying　at　Mr。　de　Vaux's。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　I　knew　he　was　to　be　here　about　these　times。　Pray；　tell　me　which　is　Mr。　de　Vaux's　place。　It　is　a　fine　house；　I　am　told。〃

〃A　great　deal　too　fine；〃　said　Harry。　〃It　is　all　finery；　or　rather　it　was　a　few　years　since。〃

〃It　is　much　improved　now；〃　observed　Elinor；　〃he　talks　of　taking　down　half　the　columns。　That　is　the　house；　Mrs。　Creighton；〃　she　added；　showing　the　spot　where　the　white　pillars　of　Colonnade　Manor　were　partly　visible　through　an　opening　in　the　wood。

〃What　a　colonnade　it　seems　to　be！　It　puts　one　in　mind　of　the　Italian　epigram　on　some　bad　architecture；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth：

〃'Care　colonne　che　fate　qua？　Non　sappiamo；　in　verita！'〃

｛〃Care　colonne。。。〃　=　Dear　columns；　what　are　you　doing　here？　We　really　don't　know！　（Italian）｝

〃I　understand；　Miss　Wyllys；　that　your　friend；　Mr。　Stryker；　calls　it　the　'cafe　de　mille　colonnes；'〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。

｛〃cafe　de　mile　colonnes〃　=　coffee…house　of　a　thousand　columns　（French）｝

〃Does　Mrs。　Creighton's　friend；　Mr。　Stryker；　treat　it　so　disrespectfully？　Mr。　de　Vaux　has　given　it　a　very　good　name；　I　think。　It　is　Broadlawn　now；　last　year　it　was　Colonnade　Manor。〃

〃And；　pray；　what　did　Mr。　Taylor's　manorial　rights　consist　in？〃　asked　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃In　the　privilege　of　putting　up　as　many　Grecian　summer…houses　as　he　pleased；　I　suppose；〃　said　Harry；　〃the　place　promised　to　be　covered　with　them　at　one　time。〃

〃Mr。　de　Vaux　has　taken　them　down；　all　but　two　at　least；〃　said　Elinor。

〃It　was　fortunate　that　Mr。　Taylor　had　a　long　purse；〃　remarked　Mrs。　Creighton；　〃for　he　seems　to　have　delighted　in　superfluities　of　all　kinds。〃

〃I　suppose　you　are　aware；　Mrs。　Creighton；　that　false　taste　is　always　a　very　expensive　foible；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys；　〃for　it　looks　upon　ornament　and　improvement　as　the　same　thing。　My　neighbour；　Mr。　Taylor；　certainly　has　as　much　of　that　spirit　as　any　man　I　ever　knew。〃

〃The　name　he　gave　his　place　is　a　good　proof　of　that；〃　said　Harry。　〃If　he　had　called　it　the　Colonnade；　that　would　have　been　at　least　descriptive　and　appropriate；　but　he　tacked　on　the　Manor；　which　had　neither　rhyme　nor　reason　to　recommend　it。〃

〃Was　it　not　a　Manor　before　the　revolution？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Creighton。

〃Oh；　no；　only　a　farm　belonging　to　the　Van　Hornes。　But　Taylor　would　not　have　it　called　a　farm；　for　the　world；　he　delights　in　big　words；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃That　is　only　natural；　I　suppose；　for　'Don　Pompey；'　as　Mr。　Stryker　calls　him；〃　observed　Mr。　Ellsworth。

The　following　morning　was　the　happy　occasion；　which　was　to　make　Mrs。　George　Wyllys　the　wife　of　Uncle　Dozie。　In　the　course　of　the　week；　which　intervened　between　her　announcing　the　fact　at　Wyllys…Roof；　and　the　wedding　itself；　she　had　only　consulted　her　friends　twice；　and　changed　her　mind　as　often。　At　first　it　was　settled　that　she　was　to　be　married　at　two　o'clock；　in　church；　with　four　witnesses　present；　and　that　from　church　she　was　to　return　quietly　to　her　own　house；　where　the　party　were　to　eat　a　family　dinner　with　her。　A　note；　however；　informed　her　friends　that　it　was　finally　decided；　that　the　wedding　should　take　place　early　in　the　morning；　at　her　own　house；　in　the　presence　of　some　dozen　friends。　The　dinner　was　also　postponed　for　a　fortnight；　as　the　happy　couple　intended　to　set　out　for　Boston；　the　morning　they　were　united。

The　weather　was　propitious；　and　after　an　early　breakfast　the　party　from　Wyllys…Roof　set　out。　It　included　Mr。　Ellsworth　and　Mrs。　Creighton；　who　were　connexions　of　the　bride；　as　well　as　Harry；　and　the　family；　Mary　Van　Alstyne　remaining　at　home　with　Jane。

They　soon　reached　Longbridge；　after　a　pleasant；　early　drive。　On　being　ushered　into　Mrs。　Wyllys's　drawing…room；　they　were　received　in　a　very　informal　manner　by　the　bride　herself。　As　Elinor　had　recommended　a　grey　silk　for　the　wedding…dress；　she　was　not　at　all　surprised　to　find　her　aunt　wearing　a　coloured　muslin。　On　one　point；　however；　it　was　evident　she　had　not　changed　her　mind；　for　the　happy　man；　Uncle　Dozie；　was　there　in　full　matrimonials；　with　a　new　wig；　and　a　white　waistcoat。　The　groom　elect　looked　much　like　a　victim　about　to　be　sacrificed；　he　was　as　miserably　sheepish　and　fidgety　as　ever　old　bachelor　could　be　under　similar　circumstances。　Mrs。　Creighton　paid　her　compliments　to　the　bride　very　gracefully；　and　she　tried　to　look　as　if　the　affair　were　not　a　particularly　good　joke。　Mr。　Wyllys　summoned　up　a　sort　of　resigned　cheerfulness；　Miss　Agnes　and　Elinor　also　endeavoured　to　look　as　became　wedding…guests。　The　children；　who　had　all　received　presents　from　the　bridegroom；　evidently　thought　the　occasion　a　holiday。　The　clergyman　having　appeared；　Mrs。　Wyllys　gave　her　hand　to　the　trembling　groom；　and　the　important　transaction　was　soon　over。

'There　is；　at　least；　no　danger　of　Uncle　Dozie's　taking　a　nap；'　thought　Harry；　'he　looks　too　nervous　and　uncomfortable　for　that。'

Congratulations　and　good　wishes　were　duly　offered；　they　served　only　to　increase　the　bridegroom's　distress；　while　the　bride　appeared　perfectly　satisfied；　and　in　very　good　spirits。　She　felt　disposed　to　make　a　cheerful　sacrifice　for　the　benefit　of　her　children；　to　whom　she　had　secured　an　efficient　protector；　while　at　the　same　time；　she　was　now　sure　of　a　prudent　friend　and　counsellor　for　life：　so　at　least　she　informed　Mrs。　Creighton。

〃I　am　sorry　your　brother　is　not　here；　Mr。　Hubbard。〃

〃He　went　to　New　York；　on　business；　last　night；〃　said　the　groom。

〃I　hope　you　will　have　a　pleasant　trip　to　Boston；〃　continued　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃Thank　you　for　the　wish；　sir；〃　interposed　the　bride；　〃but　we　determined　last　evening　to　go　to　Niagara；　as　we　have　both　been　to　Boston　already。〃

'We　shall　hear　of　you　at　New　Orleans；　yet；'　thought　Harry。

Refreshments　were　brought　in；　and　everybody；　of　course；　received　their　usual　share　of　the　wedding…cake。

〃You　see　I　have　set　you　an　excellent　example；〃　said　the　bride　to　Mrs。　Creighton　and　Elinor。

〃We　must　hope　that　these　ladies　will　soon　follow　it；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth；　with　a　glance　at　Elinor。

〃Shall　we　thank　him；　Miss　Wyllys？〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。　〃It　was　kindly　meant；　I　dare　say。〃

Mr。　Wyllys；　who　was　standing　near　them；　smiled。

〃It　was　only　yesterday；　Elinor；〃　added　the　new　Mrs。　Hubbard；　〃that　Black　Bess；　who　made　the　cake　you　are　eating；　told　me　when　she　brought　it　home；　that　she　hoped　soon　to　make　your　own　wedding…cake。〃

〃She　has　had　the　promise　of　it　ever　since　I　was　five　years　old；〃　said　Elinor；

〃Is　it　possible　that　Black　Bess　is　still　living　and　baking？〃　said　Harry。　〃I　can　remember　her　gingerbread；　as　long　as　I　can　recollect　anything。　I　once　overheard　some　Longbridge　ladies　declare；　that　they　could　tell　Black　Bess's　cake　as　far　as　they　could　see　it；　which　struck　me　as　something　very　wonderful。〃

〃She　seems　to　be　a　person　of　great　importance；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton；　〃I　shall　hope　soon　to　make　her　acquaintance。　My　dear　Miss　Elinor；　I　wish　you　would　bear　in　mind　that　your　wedding…cake　has　been　ordered　these　dozen　years。　I　am　afraid　you　forget　how　many　of　us　are　interested　in　it；　as　well　as　Black　Bess。〃

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