elinor wyllys-2-第47章

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〃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；　I　have　no　such　intentions。　I　leave　him　entirely　to　Miss　Wyllys；　all　but　his　chowder；　which　I　like　now　and　then；〃　said　the　lady；　carelessly。

〃I　am　sorry　you　will　not　be　here；　Mrs。　Creighton；　for　the　pic…nic　to　the　ladies；　which　de　Vaux　is　to　give　when　he　comes　back；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys；　〃Mr。　Stryker　will　give　us　a　fine　chowder；　no　doubt。〃

〃Thank　you；　sir；　I　should　enjoy　the　party　exceedingly。　I　must　not　think　too　much　of　it；　or　I　might　be　tempted　to　break　my　engagement　with　the　Ramsays。〃

〃Have　you　really　decided　to　go　so　soon？I　was　in　hopes　we　should　be　able　to　keep　you　much　longer；〃　said　Miss　Wyllys。

〃I　should　be　delighted　to　stay；　but　in　addition　to　my　visit　to　the　Ramsays；　who　are　going　to　town　expressly　for　me；　I　must　also　pick　up　my　little　niece。〃

Miss　Wyllys　then　made　some　inquiries　about　Mr。　Ellsworth's　little　girl。

〃She　was　very　well　and　happy；　with　her　cousins；　when　I　heard　from　my　eldest　sister；　a　day　or　two　since；〃　he　replied。　〃She　has　been　with　me　very　little　this　summer；　I　hope　we　shall　be　able　to　make　some　pleasanter　arrangement　for　the　future；〃　he　added；　with　a　half…glance　at　Elinor。

〃My　brother　has　a　very　poor　opinion　of　my　abilities；　Miss　Wyllys；　because　I　have　no　children　of　my　own；　he　fancies　that　I　cannot　manage　his　little　girl。〃

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you；　Josephine；　for　what　you　have　done　for　her；　as　you　very　well　know。〃

〃Oh；　yes；　you　are　much　obliged　to　me；　and　so　forth；　but　you　think　Mary　is　in　better　hands　with　Mrs。　Ellis；　and　so　do　I；　I　cannot　keep　the　little　thing　in　very　good　order；　I　acknowledge。〃

〃It　must　be　difficult　not　to　spoil　her；　Mrs。　Creighton；〃　remarked　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃She　is　a　very　pretty　and　engaging　childjust　the　size　and　age　for　a　pet。〃

〃That　is　the　misfortune；　she　is　so　pretty　that　Frank　thinks　I　make　a　little　doll　of　her；　that　I　dress　her　too　much。　I　believe　he　thinks　I　wear　too　many　flowers　and　ribbons　myself；　he　has　become　very　fastidious　in　his　taste　about　such　matters　lately；　he　wishes　his　daughter　to　dress　with　elegant　simplicity；　now　I　have　a　decided　fancy　for　elegant　ornament。〃

〃He　must　be　very　bold；　Mrs。　Creighton；　if　he　proposes　any　alteration　to　you。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；　entirely；〃　said　the　lady；　laughing；　〃for　the　last　year　or　two　I　have　been　even　less　successful　in　suiting　him　than　of　old。　He　seems　to　have　some　very　superior　model　in　his　mind's　eye。　But　it　is　rather　annoying　to　have　one's　taste　in　dress　criticised；　after　having　been　accustomed　to　hear　it　commended　and　consulted；　ever　since　I　was　fifteen。〃

〃You　must　tolerate　my　less　brilliant　notions　for　the　sake　of　variety；〃　said　her　brother；　smiling。

〃I　shall　hope　to　make　over　Mary's　wardrobe　to　some　other　direction；　before　she　grows　up；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton；　〃for　you　and　I　would　certainly　quarrel　over　it。〃

The　party　rose　from　table。　Elinor　felt　a　touch　of　nervousness　come　upon　her；　as　she　remarked　that　Mr。　Ellsworth　seemed　to　be　watching　her　movements；　while　his　face　had　worn　rather　a　pre…occupied　expression　all　the　morning；　seeming　to　threaten　something　important。

The　day　was　very　pleasant；　and　as　Mr。　Wyllys　had　some　business　at　certain　mills　on　Chewattan　Lake；　he　proposed　a　ride　on　horseback　to　his　friends；　offering　a　seat　in　his　old…fashioned　chair　to　any　lady　who　chose　to　take　it。

｛〃chair〃　=　a　light；　one…horse　carriage｝

Mrs。　Creighton　accepted　the　offer　very　readily。

〃I　have　not　been　in　any　carriage　so　rustic　and　farmer…like　these　twenty　years；〃　she　said。

〃I　shall　be　happy　to　drive　you；　if　you　can　be　satisfied　with　a　sober　old　whip　like　myself；　and　a　sober　old　pony　like　Timo。〃

〃It　is　settled　then；　you　ride　I　suppose；　Miss　Wyllys。〃

Elinor　assented；　Mary　Van　Alstyne　was　also　to　go　on　horseback。　Mr。　Ellsworth　thought　that　he　would　have　preferred　escorting　one　lady　instead　of　two　on　that　occasion。　He　seemed　destined　that　morning　to　discover；　that　a　lover's　course　is　not　only　impeded　by　important　obstacles；　but　often　obstructed　by　things　trifling　in　themselves。　Before　the　chair　and　horses　appeared　at　the　door；　there　was　an　arrival　from　Longbridge。　Mr。　Taylor　and　his　daughter；　Miss　Emma；　had　come　from　New　York　the　previous　evening；　and　now　appeared　at　Wyllys…Roof；　the　merchant　had　come　over　with　the　double　object　of　blessing　his　grandchild；　and　taking　his　share　in　a　speculation　then　going　on　in　the　neighbourhood。　The　Taylors　had　been　asked　to　Wyllys…Roof；　at　any　time　when　they　wished　to　see　Jane；　and　they　had　now　come　for　twenty…four　hours；　in　accordance　with　the　invitation。　At　first　Mr。　Ellsworth　supposed　the　ride　to　Chewattan　Lake　must　be　abandoned；　but　it　was　only　deferred　for　an　hour。　Miss　Emma　Taylor；　ever　ready　for　an　enterprise　of　liveliness；　had　no　sooner　embraced　her　sister…in…law；　and　learned　that　some　of　the　family　had　proposed　riding；　than　she　immediately　expressed　a　great　desire　to　join　them。　Mary　Van　Alstyne　very　readily　gave　up　her　horse　and　habit　to　the　young　lady；　and　Mr。　Ellsworth　walked　over　to　Broadlawn；　to　invite　Bob　de　Vaux；　a　boy　of　sixteen；　to　be　her　especial　escort。　He　thought　this　a　very　clever　manoeuvre　of　his　own。　While　these　arrangements　were　going　on；　and　the　Taylors　were　taking　some　refreshment；　Mr。　Taylor　had　found　time　to　express　his　regrets　at　the　result　of　the　law…suit。

〃I　was　much　disposed；　however；　to　anticipate　such　a　verdict；〃　he　observed；　〃Mr。　Clapp　is　a　very　talented　lawyer　for　so　young　a　man；　this　cause；　which　has　attracted　so　much　attention；　will　probably　make　his　fortune　at　the　bar。　But　I　was　fearful；　sir；　from　the　beginning；　that　neither　yourself　nor　your　friend；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　was　fully　aware　of　Mr。　Clapp's　abilities。〃

〃I　do　not　conceive；　however；　that　the　cause　was　won　by　Mr。　Clapp's　legal　acumen；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys；　drily。

〃Perhaps　not；　still；　I　understand　that　he　succeeded　in　making　out　a　very　strong　case　in　behalf　of　his　client。〃

〃Of　that　there　is　no　doubt。〃

〃And　the　less　foundation　he　had　to　work　on；　the　greater　his　talents　must　appear；〃　said　Mr。　Taylor；　with　a　look；　which　expressed　both　admiration　for　Mr。　Clapp；　and　the　suspicion　that　he　had　been　assisting　an　impostor。

〃The　kind　of　talent　you　refer　to　is　not　of　a　very　enviable　character；　I　think；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃I　don't　know　that；　my　dear　sir；〃　added　Mr。　Taylor；　as　he　drank　off　a　glass　of　wine；　〃it　is　a　talent　which　has　gained　a　fine　property　at　least。　I　regret；　however；　that　my　friend；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　should　have　suffered　so　heavy　a　loss。〃

Mr。　Wyllys　bowed；　and　well　aware　that　his　own　views　of　the　case　and　those　of　Mr。　Taylor　would　not　agree；　he　changed　the　conversation。

〃You　will　find　your　old　place　much　changed；〃　observed　Miss　Wyllys　to　the　merchant。

〃Yes；　madam；　I　understand　considerable　alterations　have　been　made　at　my　former　mansion。　I　had　almost　forgotten　this　morning　that　the　estate　was　no　longer　mine；　and　was　half…inclined　to　enter　the　gate　as　we　passed　it。〃

〃I　am　delighted；　pa；　that　it　is　not　yours　any　longer！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Emma；　with　a　liveliness　which　accorded　particularly　ill　with　her　deep　mourning…dress。　〃We　shall　have　ten　times　more　fun　at　Rockaway；　Colonnade　Manor　was　the　stupidest　place　in　creation；　we　were　often　a　whole　day　without　seeing　a　beau！〃

At　length；　Miss　Emma　having　declared　herself　more　than　sufficiently　rested；　she　put　on　the　habit；　and　the　chair　and　horses　were　brought　to　the　door。　Mr。　Taylor　was　to　set　out　shortly　after；　in　another　direction；　to　go　over　the　manufactory　in　which　he　was　about　to　become　interested。

All　agreed　that　the　day　was　delightful。　There　was　a　fine　air；　the　dust　had　been　laid　by　a　shower；　and　as　the　road　led　through　several　woods；　they　had　not　too　much　sun。　For　a　while　the　four　equestrians　kept　together；　and　common…place　matters　only　were　talked　over；　the　Petrel　was　not　forgotten。　Miss　Emma　Taylor　declared　she　would　have　gone　along；　if　she　had　been　on　the　spot　when　they　sailed。　Bob　de　Vaux　said　his　brother　Hubert　had　offered　to　take　him；　but　he　did　not　care　to　go；　he　had　rather　ride　than　sail；　any　day。

〃Here's　for　a　gallop　then！〃　exclaimed　the　young　lady；　and　off　the　two　set　at　a　rapid　pace。

〃How　does　that　flirtation　come　on？〃　asked　Miss　Emma；　when　they　lessened　their　pace　at　some　distance　in　advance　of　the　rest　of　the　party。

〃All　settled；　I　believe；〃　replied　the　youth。

〃What；　actually　engaged？　I　have　been　quite　exercised　about　all　your　doings　over　here；　this　summer；　you　must　have　had　a　lively　time；　three　or　four　flirtations　all　going　on　at　once。　But；　do　you　know　I　am　bent　on　spiting　Mr。　Ellsworth　this　morning。　He　meant　to　have　a　tete…a…tete；　I　know；　and　only　asked　YOU　just　to　get　rid　of　ME。　But　he　shan't　have　a　moment's　peace　to　pay　for　it；　let's　turn　round　and　go　back　again　at　full　speed。〃

Bob　de　Vaux　had　not　the　least　objections；　he　liked　motion　and　mischief　almost　as　much　as　did　the　lively　belle；　they　both　enjoyed　the　joke　exceedingly；　and　succeeded　in　provoking　Mr。　Ellsworth　not　a　little。　Miss　Emma　and　her　companion　were　in　high　glee　at　their　success；　they　would　first　ride　half　a　mile　by　the　side　of　the　others；　then　gallop　off　to　a　distance；　and　at　a　signal　from　the　young　lady；　suddenly　facing　about　they　would　return；　just　in　time；　as　Miss　Emma　thought；　to　cut　short　any　tender　speech。

〃That　young　lady　seems　to　have　gone　twice　over　every　foot　of　the　road；〃　innocently　observed　Mr。　Wyllys；　little　aware　of　her　object。

〃What　a　restless　creature　it　is！〃　replied　Mrs。　Creighton；　〃she　must　worry　her　horse　as　much　as　she　annoys　her　rational　companions。〃

〃Miss　Taylor　is　a　perfect　rattle；〃　remarked　Mr。　Ellsworth。　〃Quite　inferior　to　her　sister；　Mrs。　Hunter；　I　should　say。〃

｛〃a　rattle〃　=　a　chatterbox｝

〃Her　excess　of　spirits　will　wear　itself　out　one　of　these　days；　I　dare　say；〃　replied　Elinor。

〃It　is　to　be　hoped　so；〃　said　the　gentleman；　drily。

When　they　reached　the　lake　they　dismounted；　and　passed　half　an　hour　at　a　farm…house；　to　rest；　and　lunch　upon　iced　milk　and　dew…berries；　which　the　farmer's　wife　kindly　offered　them。　Mrs。　Creighton　professed　herself　rather　disappointed　with　Chewattan　Lake；　the　shores　were　quite　low；　there　was　only　one　good　hill；　and　one　pretty；　projecting　point；　with　a　fine　group　of　elms　standing　in　graceful　relief　against　the　sky；　she　thought　Mr。　Hubbard's　painting　had　flattered　nature。　Mr。　Ellsworth　would　not　allow　that　Charlie　ever　flattered；　but　remarked　that　it　was　his　peculiar　merit；　to　throw　a　charm　about　the　simplest　water　scene；　and　his　last　view　of　Chewattan　Lake　was　certainly　one　of　his　happiest　pictures。

｛〃dew…berries〃　=　blackberries；　〃happiest〃　=　most　successful｝

On　their　way　home；　Miss　Emma　and　her　companion　again　commenced　their　quizzing　system。　Towards　the　end　of　the　ride；　however；　the　young　lady　relaxed　a　little　in　her　vigilance；　when　they　reached　a　turnpike…gate；　about　two　miles　from　Wyllys…Roof；　she　suddenly　proposed　to　Bob　de　Vaux　to　run　a　race　with　Elinor　and　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃What　do　you　say　to　it；　Miss　Wyllys？〃

〃Excuse　me；　I　had　much　rather　not。〃

〃Oh；　but　you　don't　know　what　I　mean。　Now；　you　and　Mr。　Ellsworth　go　cantering　and　trotting　along；　in　such　a　sober；　Darby　and　Joan　fashion；　that　I　am　sure　Mr。　de　Vaux　and　I　can　turn　off　here；　take