elinor wyllys-2-第46章

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er；　graceful；　gay；　and　well…bred。　Nor　had　Hazlehurst　been　blind　to　her　peculiarly　flattering　manner　towards　himself。　The　lady　was　his　friend　Ellsworth's　sister；　which　was　another　claim；　she　was　generally　admired　too；　and　this　alone；　with　some　men；　would　have　given　her　a　decided　advantage：　since　we　are　revealing　Harry's　foibles；　however；　we　must　do　him　the　justice　to　say；　that　he　was　not　one　of　the　class　referred　to。　When　he　liked；　he　liked　honestly；　for　good　reasons　of　his　own。　At　the　time　he　left　home　with　Mr。　Henley；　he　had　not　been　able　to　decide　entirely　to　his　own　satisfaction；　whether　Mrs。　Creighton　really　had　any　partiality　for　him　or　not；　he　waited　with　a　little　interest　and　a　little　curiosity；　to　know　what　she　would　do　after　he　left　Philadelphia。　News　soon　reached　him　that　the　lady　was　gay　and　charming　as　ever；　much　admired；　and　taking　much　pleasure　in　admiration；　as　usual。　He　had　known　Mrs。　Creighton　from　a　girl；　she　was　a　year　or　two　older　than　himself；　and　had　been　a　married　woman　while　he　was　still　a　boy；　and　he　had　been　long　aware　of　her　reputation　as　a　coquette；　this　had　no　doubt　put　him　on　his　guard。　As　had　occasionally　remarked　her　conduct　himself；　and　having　been　so　intimate　with　women　of　very　different　characterhis　brother's　wife；　Miss　Wyllys；　and　Elinorhe　knew　very　well　that　all　women　were　not　coquettes；　he　had　received　a　higher　standard　of　female　delicacy　and　female　truth　than　many　young　men。　So　long；　therefore；　as　he　believed　Mrs。　Creighton　a　decided　flirt；　he　was　in　little　danger　from　her：　the　lady；　however；　was　no　common　coquettecleverness；　tact；　good　taste；　gave　her　very　great　advantages；　she　was　generally　admired；　and　Hazlehurst　expected　daily　to　hear　that　she　was　married。

He　had　become　very　tired　of　Rio　Janeiro；　and　very　desirous　of　returning　home；　long　before　Mr。　Henley　was　recalled　to　exchange　the　court　of　Brazil　for　that　of　St。　Petersburgh。　Sincere　respect　for　Mr。　Henley　had　alone　kept　him　at　Rio；　and　when　he　arrived　at　Norfolk；　he　was　still　undecided　whether　he　should　continue　in　the　legation　or　not。　He　found　that　all　his　friends　were　at　Saratoga；　and　he　hastened　there；　he　was　anxious　to　see　the　Wyllyses；　anxious　to　see　Elinor；　and　yet　he　dreaded　the　first　meetinghe　had　already　determined　to　be　guided　entirely　in　his　future　steps　by　their　manner　towards　himself；　if　they　did　not　absolutely　shun　him；　he　would　make　an　effort　for　a　complete　reconciliation。　He　knew　Elinor　was　unmarried；　he　had　never　heard　of　any　engagement；　and　he　might　then　hope　to　regain　all　he　had　lost。　He　arrived；　he　was　received　kindly；　and　the　sight　of　Elinor's　plain　face　did　not　change　his　determination；　on　the　contrary；　he　found　her　just　what　he　remembered　her；　just　what　he　had　always　known　her　to　beeverything　that　was　naturally　feminine　and　amiable。　But　if　Elinor　were　still　herself；　Harry　soon　found　that　her　position　had　very　materially　altered　of　late；　she　was　now　an　heiress；　it　seemed。　What　a　contemptible　interpretation　might　be　placed　on　his　advances　under　such　circumstances！　Then　came　the　discovery　of　Mr。　Ellsworth's　views　and　hopes；　and　his　friend　was　evidently　sanguine　of　success。　Thus　everything　was　changed；　he　was　compelled　to　remain　in　the　back…ground；　to　avoid　carefully　any　interference　with　his　friend。

There　appeared　no　reason　to　doubt　that　Elinor　would；　ere　long；　marry　Ellsworth；　she　herself　certainly　liked　him；　and　her　friends　very　evidently　favoured　his　suit。　On　the　other　hand；　Mrs。　Creighton　seemed　particularly　well　pleased　with　his　own　return；　she　was　certainly　very　charming；　and　it　was　by　no　means　an　unpleasant　task　to　play　cavalier　to　his　friend's　sister。　Still　he　looked　on　with　great　interest；　as　Ellsworth　pursued　his　courtship；　and　he　often　found　himself　making　observations　upon　Elinor's　movements。　〃Now　she　will　do　this〃〃I　am　sure　she　thinks　that〃〃I　know　her　better　than　Ellsworth〃〃She　can't　endure　Stryker〃and　other　remarks　of　the　kind；　which　kept　his　attention　fixed　upon　his　old　playfellow；　the　more　closely　he　observed　her　the　more　he　saw　to　love　and　admire；　for　their　former　long　intimacy　had　given　him　a　key　to　her　character；　and　greater　knowledge　of　the　world　enabled　him　fully　to　appreciate　her　purity　of　principle；　her　native　grace　and　modesty；　the　generous　tone　of　her　mind；　the　unaffected　sweetness　of　her　disposition。　It　appeared　strange　and　unpleasant　to　him；　that　he　must　now　draw　back　and　see　her　engrossed　by　Ellsworth；　when　she　had　so　long　been　his　own　favourite　companion；　still　he　had　no　right　to　complain；　it　was　his　own　fault　that　matters　were　so　much　changed。　As　for　Mrs。　Creighton；　Harry　could　not　satisfy　himself　with　regard　to　her　real　feelings；　there　were　times　when　he　thought　she　was　attached　to　him；　but　just　as　it　began　to　appear　clear　that　she　was　not　merely　coquetting；　just　as　he　began　to　inquire　if　he　could　ever　offer　himself　to　a　woman　whom　he　admired　very　much；　but　whom　he　did　not　entirely　respect；　the　pretty　widow　would　run　off；　apparently　in　spite　of　herself；　into　some　very　evident　flirtation　with　Stryker；　with　de　Vaux；　with　Mr。　Wyllys；　in　fact　with　any　man　who　came　in　her　way。　Generally　he　felt　relieved　by　these　caprices；　since　they　left　perfect　liberty　of　action　to　himself；　occasionally　he　was　vexed　with　her　coquetry；　vexed　with　himself　for　admiring　her　in　spite　of　it　all。　Had　Harry　never　known　Mrs。　Creighton　previously；　he　would　doubtless　have　fallen　very　decidedly　in　love　with　her　in　a　short　time；　but　he　had　known　her　too　long；　and　half　mistrusted　her；　had　he　never　known　Elinor　so　thoroughly；　he　would　not　have　understood　Mrs。　Creighton。　He　involuntarily　compared　the　two　together；　both　were　particularly　clever；　well…bred；　and　graceful；　but　Harry　felt　that　one　was　ingenuous；　amiable；　and　natural；　while　he　knew　that　the　other　was　worldly；　bright；　but　cold；　and　interested　in　all　her　views　and　actions。　Elinor's　charm　lay　in　the　perfect　confidence　one　reposed　in　the　firmness　of　her　principles；　the　strength　of　her　affections；　softened　as　they　were　by　feminine　grace　of　mind　and　person。　Mrs。　Creighton　fascinated　by　the　brilliant　gloss　of　the　world；　the　perfection　of　art；　inspired　by　the　natural　instincts　of　a　clever；　educated　coquette。　There　had　been　moments　when　Hazlehurst　was　all　but　deceived　into　believing　himself　unjust　towards　Mrs。　Creighton；　so　charmingly　piquant；　so　gracefully　flattering　was　her　manner；　but　he　owed　his　eventual　escape　to　the　only　talisman　which　can　ever　save　a　young　man；　or　an　old　one　either；　from　the　wiles　of　a　pretty；　artful　coquette；　he　carried　about　with　him　the　reflection　of　a　purer　model　of　womanly　virtue；　one　gradually　formed　from　boyhood　upon　Elinor's　mould；　and　which　at　last　had　entirely　filled　his　mind　and　his　heart。

Since　the　commencement　of　the　Stanley　suit；　Hazlehurst　had　become　quite　disgusted　with　Mrs。　Creighton's　conduct；　art　may　reach　a　great　way；　but　it　can　never　cover　the　whole　ground；　and　the　pretty　widow　involuntarily　betrayed　too　many　variations　of　manner；　graduated　by　Harry's　varying　prospects；　his　eyes　were　completely　opened；　he　was　ashamed　of　himself　for　having　been　half…persuaded　that　she　was　attached　to　him。　How　different　had　been　Elinor's　conduct！　she　had　shown　throughout　a　warm；　unwavering　interest　in　his　difficulties；　always　more　frankly　expressed　in　his　least　encouraging　moments；　indeed　she　had　sometimes　blushed；　from　the　fear　that　her　sympathy　might　he　mistaken　for　something　more　than　friendly　regard　for　her　kinsman。　Harry　saw　it　all；　he　understood　the　conduct　of　both；　and　he　felt　Elinor's　kindness　deeply；　he　was　no　longer　ungrateful；　and　he　longed　to　tell　her　so。　True；　she　would　ere　long　become　his　friend's　wife；　but　might　he　not；　under　the　circumstances；　be　permitted　first　to　declare　his　feelings？　It　would；　perhaps；　be　only　a　just　atonement　for　the　pastonly　what　was　due　to　Elinor。　Harry　tried　to　persuade　himself　into　this　view　of　the　case；　as　he　looked　up　towards　her　window；　invoking　a　blessing　on　her　gentle　head。

Hazlehurst's　reflections；　while　on　the　piazza；　had　commenced　with　his　pecuniary　difficulties；　and　the　consequences　of　his　late　defeat；　but　they　gradually　centered　on　Elinor　in　a　very　lover…like　manner；　much　in　the　shape　we　have　given　them。　But　at　length　the　moon　went　down　behind　the　wood；　and　those　whose　rooms　were　on　that　side　of　the　house　found　that　the　sound　of　his　footsteps　had　ceased；　and　nothing　farther　disturbed　the　stillness　of　the　night。

〃Did　you　see　the　Petrel　this　morning；　grandpapa？〃　said　Elinor；　as　she　was　pouring　out　the　coffee　at　the　breakfast…table。

〃No；　I　did　not；　my　child；　I　took　it　for　granted　they　were　off　before　sun…rise；　and　did　not　look　for　them。〃

〃They　were　behind　their　time；　they　were　in　sight　from　my　window　about　an　hour　since。〃

〃Some　of　the　youngsters　have　been　lazy；　I　suppose；　I　hope　Harry　was　not　the　delinquent。〃

〃I　heard　him　pass　my　door　quite　early；〃　observed　Miss　Agnes。

〃When　I　saw　them；〃　said　Elinor；　〃they　had　drawn　off　from　the　wharf；　and　were　lying　in　the　river；　as　if　they　were　waiting　for　something　that　had　been　forgotten；　the　boat　looked　beautifully；　for　there　was　very　little　air；　and　she　lay　motionless　on　the　water；　with　her　sails　half…furled。〃

〃Perhaps　they　stopped　for　Mr。　Hubbard　to　make　a　sketch；〃　said　Ellsworth　to　Elinor。

〃Hardly；　I　should　think；　time　and　tide；　you　know；　wait　for　no　mannot　even　to　be　sketched。〃

〃But　Hazlehurst　told　me　his　friend　Hubbard　had　promised　to　immortalize　the　Petrel　and　her　crew　by　a　picture；　perhaps　he　chose　the　moment　of　departure；　you　say　she　appeared　to　great　advantage　then。〃

〃I　should　think　he　would　prefer　waiting　for　some　more　striking　moment。　Who　knows　what　adventures　they　may　meet　with！　Mr。　de　Vaux　expects　to　win　a　race；　perhaps　they　may　catch　a　whale；　or　see　the　sea…serpent。〃　

〃No　doubt　Mr。　Stryker　would　try　to　catch　the　monster；　if　they　were　to　meet　with　him；　his　fishing　ambition　is　boundless；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。

〃But　there　is　no　fashionable　apparatus　for　catching　sea…serpents；〃　observed　Elinor；　〃and　Mr。　Stryker's　ambition　is　all　fashionable。〃

〃Stryker　is　not　much　of　an　Izaak　Walton；　certainly；〃　remarked　Ellsworth。　〃He　calls　it　murder；　to　catch　a　trout　with　a　common　rod　and　a　natural　fly。　He　will　scarcely　be　the　man　to　bring　in　the　sea…serpent；　he　would　go　after　it　though；　in　a　moment；　if　a　regular　European　sportsman　were　to　propose　it　to　him。〃

〃I　almost　wonder　we　have　not　yet　had　an　English　yacht　over　here；　whale…hunting；　or　sea…serpent…hunting；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton；　〃they　are　so　fond　of　novelty　and　wild…goose　chasing　of　any　kind。〃

〃It　would　make　a　lion　of　a　dandy；　at　once；〃　said　Ellsworth；　〃if　he　could　catch　the　sea…serpent。〃

｛〃lion〃　=　social　celebrity｝

〃A　single　fin　would　be　glory　enough　for　one　lion；〃　said　Elinor；　remember　how　many　yards　there　are　of　him。〃

〃If　Stryker　should　catch　a　slice　of　the　serpent；　no　doubt　he　will　throw　it　into　his　chowder…pot；　and　add　it　to　the　receipt；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃Well；　Miss　Wyllys；　I　think　you　and　I　might　engage　to　eat　all　the　monsters　he　catches；　as　Beatrice　did　Benedict's　slain；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。

｛〃Beatrice　and　Benedict。。。〃　=　characters　in　Shakespeare's　play　〃Much　Ado　about　Nothing〃｝

〃Do　you　intend　to　make　up　with　Stryker；　a　la　Beatrice？〃　asked　the　lady's　brother。　〃It　is　some　time　now　that　you　have　carried　on　the　war　of　wit　with　him。〃

〃No；　indeed；