elinor wyllys-2-第4章

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〃Oh；　no；　they　are　somewhere　on　the　other　side　of　the　boat；　my　sister…in…law；　Mrs。　Taylor's　little　girl　is　with　them。　By…the…bye；　Emma；　I　am　going　into　the　cabin　to　look　after　Jane；　will　you　go　with　me？〃

〃No；　indeed；　I　hale　the　cabin　of　a　steamboat！〃

Adeline　was　quite　satisfied　to　leave　her　sister　with　the　prospect　of　a　good　supply　of　young　men　to　flirt　with；　though　matrimony　had　changed　her　in　some　respects；　she　still　considered　it　a　duty　to　encourage　to　the　utmost；　all　love…affairs；　and　flirtations　going　on　in　her　neighbourhood。　Mr。　Hopkins　resigned　the　little　boy　to　his　mother's　care；　Mr。　St。　Leger　helped　his　wife　through　the　crowd；　and；　under　cover　of　the　movement　made　to　allow　Adeline　to　pass；　Mr。　Ellsworth　made　his　escape。　His　eye　had　been　already　directed　towards　the　opposite　side　of　the　boat；　where　he　had　discovered　the　venerable；　benevolent　face　of　Mr。　Wyllys；　with　three　ladies　near　him。　Mr。　Ellsworth　immediately　recognised　Miss　Agnes；　Elinor；　and　Mary　Van　Alstyne。　It　was　several　minutes　before　he　could　edge　his　way　through　the　crowd；　to　join　them；　but　when　he　reached　the　spot；　he　was　received　very　cordially　by　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Miss　Agnes；　in　a　friendly　manner　by　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　and　possibly　there　was　something　of　consciousness　betrayed　by　Elinor。

〃I　thought　you　already　at　Saratoga！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃We　were　detained　several　days；　waiting　for　Mrs。　Taylor；〃　replied　Elinor；　to　whom　the　remark　was　made。

〃We　shall　not　be　at　Saratoga　until　Monday；〃　added　Mr。　Wyllys；　〃we　are　going　to　pass　a　day　or　two　with　our　friends；　the　V…s；　at　Poughkeepsie。〃

〃I　am　very　sorry　to　hear　it；〃　continued　Mr。　Ellsworth；　〃I　have　promised　to　carry　Mrs。　Creighton　to　Nahant；　about　that　time；　and　shall　have　my　usual　bad　luck　in　missing　you。〃

｛〃Nahant〃　=　sea…side　resort　in　Massachusetts；　then　very　popular；　just　north　of　Boston｝

〃We　must　persuade　Mrs。　Creighton　not　to　run　away；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

As　Elinor　stooped　at　that　moment；　to　untie　the　hat　of　the　pretty　little　creature　at　her　side；　it　was　impossible　to　say　whether　this　intelligence　were　displeasing　to　her　or　not。

〃That　is　Mrs。　Taylor's　child；　is　it　not？〃　observed　Mr。　Ellsworth；　looking　at　the　little　girl。　〃She　is　very　like　Mrs。　St。　Leger。〃

〃Do　you　really　think　so？we　fancy　her　like　her　mother；〃　said　Elinor。

〃How　is　Tallman　Taylor　now？he　was　not　well　when　they　passed　through　Philadelphia。〃

〃He　looks　badly　still；〃　said　Miss　Agnes。　〃He　is　very　imprudent；　and　distresses　Jane　very　much　by　his　carelessness。〃

〃Gentlemen　never　seem　to　do　what　is　right　when　invalids；〃　observed　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　smiling。　〃They　are　either　very　reckless；　and　indifferent　to　their　health；　or　else　over…careful。〃

〃What　do　you　say；　Mr。　Ellsworth；　is　that　account　true？〃　asked　Miss　Wyllys。

〃I　dare　say　it　isI　have　no　doubt　we　are　very　troublesome　to　our　nurses。　But；　fortunately；　women　are　endowed　with　a　double　stock　of　patience；　to　make　up　for　our　deficiencies。　Is　Mr。　Taylor　on　board？I　have　not　seen　him。〃

〃No；　he　remained　in　town　to　attend　to　some　business；〃　replied　Miss　Wyllys。　〃We　have　charge　of　Mrs。　Taylor；　however；　who　was　very　anxious　to　get　into　the　country；　on　account　of　her　youngest　child。〃

〃I　see；　Mr。　Ellsworth；　that　old　Ironsides　has　arrived　at　Norfolk；　bringing　Mr。　Henley　from　Rio；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys。

｛〃Old　Ironsides〃　=　the　United　States　Frigate　〃Constitution〃；　in　the　early　1800s；　U。S。　naval　ships　frequently　carried　diplomats　to　and　from　their　stations｝

〃Certainly；　she　arrived　on　Tuesday。〃

〃I　saw　it　in　the　Globe；　last　night；　grandpapa；　Mr。　Henley　had　arrived　at　Washington。　Harry　is　with　him；　of　course；〃　said　Elinor；　in　a　quiet；　natural　tone。

〃I　supposed　you　knew　of　their　arrival；〃　observed　Mr。　Ellsworth。　〃I　have　a　letter　from　Hazlehurst　in　my　pocket。　He　seems　to　have　had　quite　enough　of　Rio。〃

〃Mr。　Henley；　I　understand；　is　talked　of　as　minister　to　Russia；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃Yes；　I　believe　that　affair　is　settled。〃

〃Does　Hazlehurst　mention　whether　he　is　going　with　Mr。　Henley？〃　

〃That　may　be　a　state　secret；〃　said　Elinor；　smiling。

〃He　has　had　an　offer　of　the　situation；　I　believebut　does　not　seem　to　have　made　up　his　mind；　he　is　coming　home　to　look　about　him；　he　says；　having　three　months'　vacation　at　any　rate。〃

The　shrill　tone　of　Miss　Emma　Taylor's　voice　was　at　this　moment　heard　so　distinctly；　from　the　other　side　of　the　boat　that　Mr。　Wyllys　looked　up　from　his　paper；　and　Mr。　Ellsworth　smiled。　It　was　very　evident　the　young　lady　had　inherited　the　peculiar　tone　of　voice；　and　all　the　cast…off　animation　of　her　elder　sister。

〃Miss　Taylor　seems　to　be　in　very　good　spirits；〃　remarked　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃Yes；　she　always　talks　and　laughs　a　great　deal；〃　replied　Mary　Van　Alstyne。

〃They　are　no　longer　your　neighbours；　I　understand；　sir。〃

〃No；　Mr。　Taylor　sold　Colonnade　Manor　this　spring；　De　Vaux　has　purchased　it；　and　changed　the　name　of　the　place。　It　is　now　to　be　called　Broadlawn；　which　is　certainly　a　great　improvement。〃

〃And　where　does　Mr。　Taylor's　family　pass　the　summer？〃

〃Why；　Jane　tells　me　he　is　building　something　he　calls　a　cottage；　at　Rockaway；　within　a　stone's　throw　of　the　principal　hotel。　They　thought　Longbridge　too　quiet。〃

Mrs。　Taylor's　little　girl　had；　by　this；　time；　become　very　sleepy；　and　a　little　fretful；　and　Miss　Agnes　advised　her　being　carried　to　her　mother。　Elinor　led　her　away；　rather；　it　is　believed；　to　Mr。　Ellsworth's　regret。

It　was　no　easy　task　to　make　one's　way　among　the　nurses；　and　babies；　and　baskets；　filling　the　ladies'　cabin；　which　was　more　than　usually　crowded。　But　at　length　Elinor　reached　Jane　and　Adeline；　who　were　sitting　together。

A　single　glance　was　sufficient　to　show　that　a　change　had　come　over　these　two　young　women；　since　the　giddy　days　of　their　girlhood。　Jane　was　pale；　but　beautiful　as　ever；　she　was　holding　on　her　knees　a　sick　child；　about　two　months　old；　which　apparently　engrossed　all　her　attention。　What　would　be　her　system　as　a　mother；　might　be　foretold　by　the　manner　in　which　she　pacified　the　little　girl　Elinor　had　brought　with　her。

〃Give　her　some　candy；　Dinah；〃　she　said　to　the　black　nurse；　whose　broad；　good…natured　face　was　soon　covered　with　shining　marks　of　affection；　from　the　hands　of　the　pretty　little　charge。

Adeline　was　less　changed　in　her　appearance　than　her　sister…in…law；　that　is　to　say；　she　was　as　pretty　as　ever；　and　neither　thin　nor　pale。　But　there　was　something　in　her　expression；　and　a　great　deal　in　her　manner；　that　was　no　longer　what　it　had　been　of　old。　That　excessive　animation　which　had　distinguished　her　as　a　belle；　had　been　allowed　to　die　away；　and　the　restless　expression；　produced　by　a　perpetual　labour　to　make　conquests；　which　was；　at　one　time；　always　to　be　traced　upon　her　features；　had　now　vanished　entirely。　In　its　place　there　was　a　touch　of　matronly　care　and　affection；　more　natural；　and　far　more　pleasing。　She；　too；　was　sitting　by　the　side　of　her　child；　driving　away　the　flies　from　the　little　thing；　who　was　sleeping　in　a　berth。　Adeline　Taylor　had　married　well；　in　the　best　sense　of　the　word。　Not　that　she　deserved　much　credit　for　doing　so；　since　she　had　only　accidentally；　as　it　were；　become　attached　to　the　young　man　who　happened　to　be　the　most　deserving　among　her　suitors。　Chance　had　had　a　great　deal　to　with　the　match；　as　it　has　with　many　matches。　She　had；　however；　one　meritthat　of　not　rejecting　him　on　account　of　his　want　of　fortune；　although　at　the　time；　she　might　have　married　a　man　who　would　have　given　her　a　four…story；　four…window　house　in　Broadway。　Mr。　Taylor　had　not　interfered：　she　had　done　as　she　pleased　in　the　affair。　It　is　true；　that　her　father　rather　inclined　towards　the　richest　suitor；　still；　he　took　it　for　granted；　that　if　Theodore　St。　Leger　had　not　a　fortune　at　the　time；　being　a　merchant；　he　would；　of　course；　make　one　in　a　few　years。　But　Mr。　Taylor's　son…in…law　was　a　man　of　very　different　character　from　himself；　he　was　a　quiet；　prudent；　unostentatious　young　man；　of　good　abilities；　who　had　received　by　education　excellent　principles；　and　moderate　views；　and　who　had　fallen　in　love　with　Adeline's　pretty　face。　Mr。　Hopkins；　his　uncle　and　adopted　father；　was　a　very　worthy　man；　though　a　little　eccentric；　and　rather　too　much　given　to　snuff；　and　old　coats；　and　red　handkerchiefs。　No　one　stood　better　on　Change　than　John　Hopkins；　whose　word　had　been　as　good　as　his　bond；　throughout　a　long　life。　He　was　a　man　of　some　property　too；　but　he　had　only　given　his　nephew　enough　to　begin　life　very　moderately。　Even　with　the　very　liberal　allowance　which　Mr。　Taylor　freely　gave　his　children；　Adeline；　when　she　married；　was　obliged　to　live　in　a　much　plainer　and　quieter　way　than　she　had　done　for　the　last　five　or　six　years。

｛〃Change〃　=　the　stock　exchange｝

Altogether；　however；　the　young　couple　seemed　to　agree　very　well；　in　spite　of　the　difference　in　their　characters：　a　pretty；　good…natured　wife　was　all　the　young　merchant　had　wished　for；　and　Adeline　was　really　attached　to　her　husband；　whose　chief　fault　seemed　to　be　in　his　coats；　which　were　rather　too　much　after　the　fashion　of　those　of　Uncle　Hopkins。

Jane's　fate　had　proved　less　happy　than　that　of　her　friend　Adeline。　Tallman　Taylor's　habits　of　extravagance　had　led　them　into　difficulties　in　more　ways　than　one。　He　had　spent　far　more　than　his　income；　and　his　carelessness　in　business　had　proved　a　great　disadvantage　to　the　house　with　which　he　was　connected。　During　the　last　year；　matters　had　grown　worse　and　worse；　he　had　neglected　his　wife；　and　lost　large　sums　at　the　gambling…table。　Poor　Jane　had　passed　some　unhappy　months；　and　traces　of　sorrow　were　to　be　seen　on　her　pale　face。　Towards　the　last　of　the　winter；　young　Taylor　had　been　dangerously　ill　with　a　malignant　fever　prevailing　in　New　Orleans；　and　as　a　long　convalescence　interfered　with　his　dissipated　habits；　and　confined　him　for　some　time　to　his　own　house；　his　friends　hoped　that　he　would　have　time　and　leisure　to　make　some　useful　reflections。　But　they　were　deceived；　sickness　and　suffering　only　made　him　more　selfish　and　irritable：　poor　Jane　had　already　paid　a　heavy　penance　for　her　duplicity；　and　her　obstinacy　in　marrying　him。　Mr。　Taylor　had　quarrelled　with　his　partners；　and　it　was　the　object　of　his　present　visit　to　New　York；　to　persuade　his　father　to　make　some　heavy　advances　in　his　behalf；　as　otherwise　he　would　be　ruined。　Jane；　it　is　true；　knew　but　little　of　her　husband's　affairs；　still；　she　saw　and　heard　enough　to　make　her　anxious　for　the　future；　and　she　gave　herself　up　to　melancholy　repining；　while　her　manner　lost　all　cheerfulness。　Her　father's　family　were　in　Charleston；　and　she　had　not　seen　them　for　more　than　a　twelvemonth；　but　Mr。　Robert　Hazlehurst；　Miss　Agnes；　and　Elinor　had　done　all　that　was　possible　to　supply　their　place；　since　she　had　been　in　their　neighbourhood。　Adeline；　too；　was　well　enough　disposed　towards　her　sister…in…law；　but　she　had　neither　the　good　sense　nor　the　delicacy　of　Miss　Wyllys　and　Elinor；　and　was　far　less　successful　in　her　friendly　efforts。　The　society　of　her　aunt　and　cousin　seemed　a　relief　to　Jane；　and　it　was　at　their　request　that　she　was　going　to　pass　a　fortnight　with　them　at　Saratoga；　where　Miss　Agnes　had　been　ordered　by　her　physician。

Elinor；　on　joining　her　cousin　in　the　cabin；　tried　to　persuade　Jane　to　have　the　sick　child　carried　on　deck；　for　the　sake　of　the　fresh　air；　but　she　did　not　s