elinor wyllys-2-第45章

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〃Our　only　difficulty　at　present　seems　the　prospect　of　too　much　comfort；〃　said　Charlie。　〃Mrs。　de　Vaux　expressed　some　fears　of　a　famine　at　Longbridge　in　consequence　of　this　cruise；　we　carry　off　such　a　stock　of　provisions。〃

〃Not　a　bit　too　much；　people　always　want　twice　as　much　on　a　party　of　pleasure　as　at　other　times；〃　said　Hubert　de　Vaux。

The　plan　of　the　cruise　was　talked　over　in　all　its　details；　and　the　whole　party　seemed　pleased　with　the　idea。　Young　Van　Horne；　now　a　practising　physician　in　New　York；　was　delighted　with　the　prospect　of　a　week's　liberty；　Mr。　Smith；　the　conchologist；　hoped　to　pick　up　some　precious　univalve　or　bivalve；　Charlie　talked　of　taking　a　sketch　of　Cape　Cod；　Harry　declared　he　was　determined　to　enjoy　the　trip；　as　the　last　holiday　he　could　allow　himself　for　a　long　time；　and　Mr。　Stryker　promised　himself　the　best　of　chowders；　a　sea…dish　in　which　he　professed　himself　to　be　a　great　connoisseur。　Mrs。　Creighton　indeed　declared；　that　he　looked　upon　that　season　as　lost；　in　which　he　could　not　make　some　improvement　in　his　celebrated　receipt　for　chowder。　Whether　it　was　that　this　lady's　gaiety　and　coquetry　instinctively　revived　in　the　company　of　so　many　gentlemen；　or　whether　she　felt　afraid　of　Mr。　Stryker's　keen；　worldly　scrutiny；　her　manner　in　the　evening　resumed　entirely　its　wonted　appearance；　she　was　witty；　graceful；　piquant；　and　flattering　as　ever；　and　quite　as　much　so　with　Hazlehurst　as　with　any。

〃What　do　you　say　to　a　game　of　chess；　Mrs。　Creighton？〃　asked　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃With　pleasure；　sir；　I　am　always　at　your　service。　Not　that　it　is　very　pleasant　to　be　beaten　so　often；　but　I　really　think　I　improve　under　your　instructions。　You　are　so　much　interested　yourself　that　you　inspire　others。〃

〃You　must　allow　me；　Mrs。　Creighton；　to　suggest　something　for　your　improvement；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker。

〃And　what　is　it；　pray？〃

〃You　talk　too　much；　you　make　yourself　too　agreeable　to　your　adversarythat　is　not　fair。〃

〃Oh；　it　is　only　a　ruse　de　guerre；　and　Mr。　Wyllys　beats　me　nine　games　out　of　ten；　in　spite　of　my　chattering。〃

｛〃ruse　de　guerre〃　=　military　strategem　（French）｝

〃No　doubt；　but　if　you　could　make　up　your　mind　to　be　less　charming　for　half　an　hour；　you　might　have　the　honours　of　the　game　oftener。〃

〃I　must　gain　the　battle　my　own　way；　Mr。　Stryker；　or　not　at　all。〃

〃I　leave　you　to　your　fate；　then；〃　said　the　gentleman；　turning　away。

Charlie；　Elinor；　Harry；　and　Jane　were　quietly　talking　together；　Jane　having　now　resumed　her　place　in　the　family　circle。　They　were　speaking　of　Charlie's　sketches；　and　the　young　widow　asked　if　he　ever　painted　portraits　now；　Miss　Wyllys　｛sic｝　wished　to　have　her's　taken；　before　she　left　them　to　return　to　her　parents。

｛〃Miss　Wyllys〃　=　should　read　Jane　（or　Mrs。　Taylor）；　Elinor　Wyllys　is　an　orphan｝

〃You　do　paint　portraits；〃　said　Elinor；　〃I　have　seen　those　of　your　mother　and　Miss　Patsey。〃

Charlie　changed　colour；　and　hastily　denied　any　claim　to　be　called　a　portrait…painter。

〃Yet　it　would　be　pleasant；〃　said　Elinor；　〃to　have　a　picture　of　my　cousin　painted　by　you。〃

Jane　observed　she　should　like　to　have　Elinor's；　by　the　same　hand。

〃Oh；　my　portrait　would　not　be　worth　having；〃　said　Elinor；　smiling；　〃certainly　not　if　taken　by　an　honest　artist。〃

〃You　will　both；　I　hope；　fare　better　from　the　hands　of　Mr。　I…　or　Mr。　S…；〃　said　Charlie；　with　some　little　embarrassment。

Mr。　Ellsworth；　who　had　been　standing　near　the　group；　now　asked　Elinor　to　sing。

〃What　will　you　have？〃　she　replied；　taking　a　seat　at　the　piano。

〃Anything　you　please。〃

〃Pray　then　give　us　Robin　Adair；　Miss　Elinor；〃　said　Charlie。

Elinor　sang　the　well…known　song　with　greater　sweetness　than　usualshe　was　decidedly　in　good　voice；　both　Charlie　and　Harry　listened　with　great　pleasure　as　they　stood　by　her　side；　Jane　was　also　sitting　near　the　piano；　and　seemed　more　interested　in　the　music　than　usual；　it　was　a　song　which　the　young　widow　had　so　often　heard；　in　what　she　now　looked　back　to　as　the　happy　days　of　her　girlhood。　More　than　one　individual　in　the　room　thought　it　charming　to　listen　to　Elinor　and　look　at　Jane；　at　the　same　instant。　Several　of　the　gentlemen　then　sang；　and　the　party　broke　up　cheerfully。

Little　was　it　thought；　that　never　again　could　the　same　circle　be　re…united　at　Wyllys…Roof；　all　who　crossed　the　threshold　that　night　were　not　to　return。



CHAPTER　XX。　｛XLIII｝

〃I　pr'ythee　hear　me　speak！〃　Richard　III。

｛William　Shakespeare；　〃Richard　III〃；　IV。iv。180｝

HAZLEHURST　had　gone　out　with　his　friends；　and　continued　walking　on　the　piazza；　first　with　Charlie　and　then　with　Ellsworth；　at　length　Mrs。　Stanley　called　him　from　the　window　to　say　good…bye；　as　she　did　not　expect　to　see　him　again　before　the　cruise；　the　other　ladies　also　wished　him　a　pleasant　excursion　at　the　same　moment。

〃Good　fishing　and　no　musquitoes　｛sic｝which；　I　take　it；　is　all　that　is　desirable　on　such　an　occasion；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton；　smiling　brightly　but　carelessly；　as　she　offered　her　hand。

〃Thank　you；　I　suppose　you　have　no　commands　for　Cape　Cod？〃

〃None　at　all；　I　believe；　unless　you　can　bring　us　the　true　Yankee　receipt　for　chowder；　which　Mr。　Stryker　was　explaining　this　evening。〃

〃You　will　be　off　so　early　to…morrow　that　we　shall　scarcely　see　you；　Harry；〃　said　Miss　Wyllys。　〃You　must　come　back　to　us；　however；　and　fall　into　the　old　habit　of　considering　Wyllys…Roof　as　home；　whenever　you　please；〃　she　added　kindly。

Harry's　thanks　were　expressed　with　feeling。

〃And　in　the　mean　time　I　hope　you　will　have　a　pleasant　cruise；〃　said　Elinor。　〃Fair　winds　and　better　prospects　attend　you！〃and　as　she　raised　her　eyes；　Harry　observed　they　had　filled　with　tears　when　she　made　this　allusion　to　his　difficulties。　Perhaps　Ellsworth　made　the　same　remark；　and　appreciated　her　kindness；　for　when　Elinor　turned　to　wish　him　good…night　we　strongly　suspect　that　his　countenance　said　so；　there　could　be　no　doubt　at　least；　that　she　blushed　at　the　time；　though　pale　but　a　moment　before。

After　the　ladies　had　gone；　Mr。　Wyllys　and　Ellsworth　went　off　together；　and　Harry　returned　to　the　piazza。

It　was　perhaps　inconsiderate　in　Hazlehurst　to　continue　walking　so　late；　for　the　sound　of　his　footsteps　fell　regularly　on　the　stillness　of　the　night；　long　after　the　family　had　gone　to　rest；　and　may　possibly　have　disturbed　some　of　his　friends；　but　many　busy　thoughts　of　the　past　and　the　future　crowded　on　his　mind；　while　pacing　that　familiar　spot；　the　piazza　of　Wyllys…Roof。　It　is　time　that　these　thoughts　should　be　partially　revealed　to　the　reader；　and　for　that　purpose　we　must　pause　a　moment；　in　order　to　look　backward。

Long　since；　Harry's　heart　had　warmed　again　towards　his　old　playfellow；　Elinor。　As　soon　as　the　first　novelty　of　a　life　at　Rio　had　worn　off；　Harry；　whose　affections　were　strong；　began　to　miss　his　old　friends；　the　more　so；　since　Mr。　Henley；　although　his　principles　and　talents　entirely　commanded　his　secretary's　esteem；　was　not　a　pleasant　companion　in　every…day　life。　Hazlehurst　soon　began　to　contrast　the　minister's　formal；　old　bachelor　establishment　with　the　pleasant　house　of　his　friend　Ellsworth；　where　Mrs。　Creighton　did　the　honours　charmingly；　and　with　the　cheerful　home　of　his　brother；　where　his　sister…in…law　always　received　him　kindly：　still　oftener　be　compared　the　cold；　stately　atmosphere　which　seemed　to　fill　Mr。　Henley's　house；　with　the　pleasant；　genial　spirit　which　prevailed　at　Wyllys…Roof；　where　everything　excellent　wore　so　amiable　an　aspect。　Until　lately　he　had　always　been　so　closely　connected　with　the　family　there；　that　he　accused　himself　of　not　having　done　full　justice　to　all　their　worth。　He　took　a　pleasure　in　dwelling　on　Mr。　Wyllys's　high　moral　character；　so　happily　tempered　by　the　benevolence　of　cheerful　old　age；　he　remembered　the　quiet；　unpretending　virtues　of　Miss　Wyllys；　always　mingled　with　unvarying　kindness　to　himself；　and　could　he　forget　Elinor；　whose　whole　character　was　so　engaging；　uniting　strength　of　principle　and　intelligence；　with　a　disposition　so　lovely；　so　endearing？　A　place　in　this　family　had　been　his；　his　for　life；　and　he　had　trifled　with　it；　rejected　it；　worse　than　thatwell　he　knew　that　the　best　place　in　Elinor's　generous　heart　had　once　been　wholly　his；　he　had　applied　for　it；　he　had　won　it；　and　what　return　had　he　made　for　her　warmest　affections？　He　had　trifled　with　her；　the　world　said　he　had　jilted　her；　jilted　the　true…hearted　Elinor；　his　friend　and　companion　from　childhood！　Knowing　her　as　well　as　he　did；　he　had　treated　her　as　if　she　were　a　mere　ball…room　coquette；　he　had　forgotten　her　as　soon　as　if　it　had　been　a　mere　holiday　fancy　of　a　boy　of　fifteen。　He　had　been　completely　infatuated；　dazzled；　blinded　by　a　beautiful　face。　That　it　was　sheer　infatuation　was　now　evident；　for；　absent　from　both　Elinor　and　Jane；　all　feeling　for　the　latter　seemed　to　have　vanished　like　a　dream。　It　is　said　that　love　without　hope　cannot　live：　the　question　must　be　settled　by　those　who　have　suffered　most　frequently　from　the　wounds　of　Cupid；　but　it　seems　evident；　at　least　from　Harry's　experience；　that　love　which　has　fed　plentifully　upon　hopes　for　some　months；　when　suddenly　put　upon　a　change　of　diet；　and　receiving　a　large　dose　of　mortification　to　boot；　falls　immediately　into　a　rapid　decline。　The　recollection　of　his　fancy　for　Jane　was　now　unpleasant　under　every　aspect；　but　where　it　was　connected　with　Elinor　he　soon　began　to　consider　it　as　particularly　painful。　He　regretted　that　he　had　engaged　Elinor　in　the　hasty；　boyish　manner　he　had　done；　before　going　abroad；　had　he　not　taken　this　step；　the　momentary　mortification　of　a　refusal　by　Jane　would　have　been　the　only　evil；　Elinor　would　not　have　suffered；　and　all　might　have　gone　well。　Gradually　the　idea　gained　upon　him；　that　it　was　not　impossible　to　repair　the　past。　His　conduct　had　been　unpardonable；　no　doubt；　yet；　perhaps　it　might　be　forgiven。　But　even　if　Elinor　could　forget　his　inexcusable　fickleness；　would　her　friends　ever　consent　to　risk　her　future　peace　with　one　who　had　so　recklessly　trifled　with　her　already？　Mr。　Wyllys　had　been　deeply　indignant　at　his　conduct；　his　whole　manner　had　changed；　there　had　been　a　cold　civility　in　it　when　they　had　met；　which　Harry　had　felt　keenlyit　amounted　almost　to　contempt。　Miss　Wyllys；　too；　was　no　longer　the　kind；　indulgent　Aunt　Agnes　of　his　boyhood；　there　was　a　very　decided　coldness　and　reserve　in　her　whole　expression；　which　it　seemed　all　but　impossible　to　overcome。　He　wished；　however；　that　he　had　it　in　his　power　to　make　advances　towards　a　reconciliation；　he　was　prepared　for　merited　coldness　at　first；　but　he　would　willingly　submit　to　it　as　a　just　penance；　if　he　could　but　hope　eventually　to　regain　his　position　with　Elinor。　Such　a　wife　as　Elinor　would　be；　was　worth　a　serious　struggle　to　obtain。　Then；　at　other　moments；　this　idea　appeared　preposterous　to　him；　how　could　the　Wyllyses　ever　forgive　him　after　so　keen　an　insult；　so　cruel　a　blow？　No；　it　was　a　dream；　he　would　not　indulge　in　it　any　longer；　he　would　not　think　of　marrying；　he　would　turn　out　an　old　bachelor　diplomatist；　like　Mr。　Henley。　It　is　not　to　be　supposed　that　Mrs。　Creighton　was　entirely　forgotten　in　these　reveries　of　Harry's；　which　formed　occasional　interludes　to　his　diplomatic　labours　while　at　Rio。　On　the　contrary　she　was　remembered　quite　frequently；　and　every　one　who　knew　her　must　always　think　of　the　pretty　widow　as　a　charming　woman；　clever；　gr