elinor wyllys-2-第13节

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〃I　hope　so　too；　Mrs。　Creighton；　for　it　is　one　of　our　chief　duties　as　diplomatists；　'to　tell　lies　for　the　good　of　our　country；'　in　an　agreeable　way。　But　I　am　afraid　I　have　not　improved　my　opportunities。　I　have　been　very　much　out　of　humour　for　the　last　six　months；　at　least。〃　

〃And　why；　pray？〃

〃Because　I　wanted　to　come　home；　and　Mr。　Henley；　my　boss；　insisted　upon　proving　to　me　it　would　be　the　most　foolish　thing　I　could　do。　He　was　so　much　in　the　right；　that　I　resented　it　by　being　cross。〃

〃But　now　he　has　come　himself；　and　brought　you　with　him。〃

〃No　thanks　to　him；　though。　It　was　all　Uncle　Sam's　doings；　who　wants　to　send　us　from　the　Equator　to　the　North　Pole。〃

〃Are　you　really　going　to　Russia；　Hazlehurst？〃　asked　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃Certainly；　you　would　not　have　me　desert；　would　you？〃

〃Oh；　no；　don't　think　of　it；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　it　must　be　a　very　pleasant　life！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Creighton。　〃I　only　wish；　Frank；　that　you　were　enough　of　a　politician　to　be　sent　as　minister　somewhere；　I　should　delight　in　doing　the　honours　for　you；　though　I　dare　say　you　would　rather　have　some　one　else　in　my　place。〃

〃We　will　wait　until　I　am　sent　as　ambassador　to　Timbuctoo；　before　I　answer　the　question。〃

〃You　have　grown　half…a…dozen　shades　darker　than　you　used　to　be　as　a　youngster；　Harry；　or　else　this　lamp　deceives　me；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃I　dare　say　I　may　have　a　fresh　tinge　of　the　olive。　But　I　am　just　from　sea；　sir；　and　that　may　have　given　me　an　additional　coat。〃

〃Did　you　suffer　much　from　heat；　on　the　voyage？〃　asked　Miss　Wyllys。

〃Not　half　as　much　as　I　have　since　I　landed。　It　appeared　to　me　Philadelphia　was　the　warmest　spot　I　had　ever　breathed　in；　worse　than　Rio。　I　was　delighted　when　Louisa　proposed　my　coming　to　Saratoga　to　see　my　friends。〃

〃You　will　find　it　quite　warm　enough　here；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃The　thermometer　was　92　｛degrees｝　in　the　shade；　yesterday。〃

〃I　don't　expect　to　be　well　cooled；　sir；　until　we　get　to　St。　Petersburgh。　After　a　sea…voyage；　I　believe　one　always　feels　the　cold　less；　and　the　heat　more　than　usual。　But　where　is　Mrs。　Stanley？we　hoped　to　find　her　with　you。　Is　she　not　staying　at　this　house？〃

〃Yes；　but　she　left　us　early；　this　evening；　not　feeling　very　well；　you　will　not　be　able　to　see　her　until　to…morrow；〃　said　Miss　Agnes。

〃I　am　sorry　she　is　not　well；　how　is　she　looking？〃

〃Particularly　well；　I　think；　she　merely　complained　of　a　head…ache　from　riding　in　the　sun。〃

〃Mrs。　Stanley　has　been　very　anxious　for　your　return；　but　she　will　be　as　agreeably　surprised　as　the　rest　of　us；　to　find　you　here；〃　said　Elinor。

〃Thank　you。　I　look　upon　myself　as　particularly　fortunate；　to　find　so　many　old　friends　collected　in　one　spot；　instead　of　having　to　run　about；　and　hunt　for　each　in　a　different　place；　just　now　that　I　am　limited　for　time。〃

〃You　ought　to　be　greatly　indebted　to　Frank　and　myself；　for　breaking　our　word　and　staying　here；　instead　of　keeping　our　promise　and　going　to　Nahant；　as　we　had　engaged　to　do；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton。

〃Certainly；　I　look　upon　it　as　part　of　my　good　luck；　but　I　should　have　made　my　appearance　at　Nahant；　if　you　had　actually　run　away　from　me。〃

〃I　shall　believe　you；　for　I　make　it　a　point　of　always　believing　what　is　agreeable。〃

〃As　I　knew　Mrs。　Hazlehurst　and　your　brother　had　engaged　rooms　here；　I　hoped　you　would　join　us；　soon　after　your　arrival；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃It　was　much　the　best　plan　for　you；〃　said　Mr。　Wyllys。

Harry　looked　gratified　by　this　friendly　remark。

It　was　already　late；　and　Mrs。　Hazlehurst；　who　had　been　conversing　in　a　corner　with　Jane；　complained　of　being　fatigued　by　her　day's　journey；　which　broke　up　the　party。　The　Hazlehursts；　like　Mrs。　Creighton　and　her　brother；　were　staying　at　the　United　States；　and　they　all　went　off　together。

When　Elinor；　as　usual；　kissed　Mr。　Wyllys　before　retiring　to　her　own　room；　she　hesitated　a　moment；　and　then　said：

〃I　must　thank　you；　grandpapa；　for　having　granted　my　request；　and　received　Harry　as　of　old。　It　is　much　better　that　the　past　should　be　entirely　forgotten。　Self…respect　seems　to　require　that　we　should　not　show　resentment　under　the　circumstances；〃　she　added；　colouring　slightly。

〃I　cannot　forget　the　past；　Elinor。　Harry　does　not　stand　with　me　where　he　once　did；　by　the　side　of　my　beloved　grandchild；　but　we　will　not　think　of　that　any　longer；　as　you　say。　I　hope　for　better　things　from　the　future。　Bless　you；　dear！〃



CHAPTER　VI。　｛XXIX｝

〃The　foam　upon　the　waters；　not　so　light。〃　COWPER。

｛William　Cowper　（English　poet；　1731…1800）；　〃Truth〃　line　43｝

As　usual　at　Saratoga；　early　the　next　morning　groups　of　people　were　seen　moving　from　the　different　hotels；　towards　the　Congress　Spring。　It　was　a　pleasant　day；　and　great　numbers　appeared　disposed　to　drink　the　water　at　the　fountain…head；　instead　of　having　it　brought　to　their　rooms。　The　Hazlehursts　were　not　the　only　party　of　our　acquaintances　who　had　arrived　the　night　before。　The　Wyllyses　found　Miss　Emma　Taylor　already　on　the　ground；　chattering　in　a　high　key　with　a　tall；　whiskered　youth。　The　moment　she　saw　Elinor；　she　sprang　forward　to　meet　her。

｛〃Congress　Spring〃　=　principal　mineral　water　source　at　Saratoga　Springs｝

〃How　do　you　do；　Miss　Wyllys？Are　you　not　surprised　to　see　me　here？〃

〃One　can　hardly　be　surprised　at　meeting　anybody　in　such　a　crowd；〃　said　Elinor。　〃When　did　you　arrive？〃

〃Last　night；　at　eleven　o'clock。　We　made　a　forced　march　from　Schenectady；　where　we　were　to　have　slept；　but　I　persuaded　Adeline　and　Mr。　St。　Leger　to　come　on。　You　can't　think　how　delighted　I　am　to　be　here；　at　last；〃　said　the　pretty　little　creature；　actually　skipping　about　with　joy。

〃And　where　is　Mrs。　St。　Leger？〃

〃Oh；　she　will　he　here　in　a　moment。　She　has　gone　to　Jane's　room。　I　left　her　there　just　now。〃

The　platform　round　the　spring　was　quite　crowded。　In　one　party；　Elinor　remarked　Mrs。　Hilson　and　Miss　Emmeline　Hubbard；　escorted　by　Monsieur　Bonnet　and　another　Frenchman。　They　were　soon　followed　by　a　set　more　interesting　to　Elinor；　the　Hazlehursts；　Mrs。　Creighton；　and　her　brother。

〃I　hope　none　of　your　party　from　Wyllys…Roof　are　here　from　necessity；〃　said　Harry；　after　wishing　Elinor　good…morning。

〃Not　exactly　from　necessity；　but　the　physicians　recommended　to　Aunt　Agnes　to　pass　a　fortnight　here；　this　summer。　You　may　have　heard　that　she　was　quite　ill；　a　year　ago？〃

〃Yes；　Robert；　of　course；　wrote　me　word　of　her　illness。　But　Miss　Wyllys　looks　quite　like　herself；　I　think。　As　for　Mr。　Wyllys；　he　really　appears　uncommonly　well。〃

〃Thank　you；　grandpapa　is　very　well；　indeed；　and　Aunt　Agnes　has　quite　recovered　her　health；　I　trust。〃

〃Miss　Wyllys；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker；　offering　a　glass　of　the　water　to　Elinor；　〃can't　I　persuade　you　to　take　a　sympathetic　cup；　this　morning？〃

〃I　believe　not；〃　replied　Elinor；　shaking　her　head。

〃Do　you　never　drink　it〃'　asked　Mrs。　Creighton。　

〃No；　I　really　dislike　it　very　much。〃

〃Pray；　give　it　to　me；　Mr。　Stryker；〃　continued　Mrs。　Creighton。　〃Thank　you：　I　am　condemned　to　drink　three　glasses　every　morning；　and　it　will　be　three　hours；　at　this　rate；　before　I　get　them。〃

〃Did　you　ever　hear　a　better　shriek　than　that；　Miss　Wyllys？〃　said　Mr。　Stryker；　lowering　his　voice；　and　pointing　to　Emma　Taylor；　who　was　standing　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　spring；　engaged　in　a　noisy；　rattling　flirtation。　After　drinking　half　the　glass　that　had　been　given　to　her；　she　had　handed　it　to　the　young　man　to　whom　she　was　talking；　bidding　him　drink　it　without　making　a　face。　Of　course；　the　youth　immediately　exerted　himself　to　make　a　grimace。

〃Oh；　you　naughty　boy！〃　screamed　Miss　Taylor；　seizing　another　half…empty　glass；　and　throwing　a　handful　of　water　in　his　face；　〃this　is　the　way　I　shall　punish　you！〃

There　were　two　gentlemen；　European　travellers；　standing　immediately　behind　Elinor　at　this　moment；　and　the　colour　rose　in　her　cheeks　as　she　heard　the　very　unfavourable　observations　they　made　upon　Miss　Taylor；　judging　from　her　noisy　manner　in　a　public　place。　Elinor；　who　understood　very　well　the　language　in　which　they　spoke；　was　so　shut　in　by　the　crowd　that　she　could　not　move；　and　was　compelled　to　hear　part　of　a　conversation　that　deeply　mortified　her；　as　these　travellers；　apparently　gentlemanly　men　themselves；　exchanged　opinions　upon　the　manners　of　certain　young　ladies　they　had　recently　met。　They　began　to　compare　notes；　and　related　several　little　anecdotes；　anything　but　flattering　in　their　nature；　to　the　delicacy　of　the　ladies　alluded　to；　actually　naming　the　individuals　as　they　proceeded。　More　than　one　of　these　young　girls　was　well　known　to　Elinor；　and　from　her　acquaintance　with　their　usual　tone　of　manner　and　conversation；　she　had　little　doubt　as　to　the　truth　of　the　stories　these　travellers　had　recorded　for　the　amusement　of　themselves　and　their　friends；　at　the　same　time；　she　felt　perfectly　convinced　that　the　interpretation　put　upon　these　giddy；　thoughtless　actions；　was　cruelly　unjust。　Could　these　young　ladies　have　heard　the　observations　to　which　they　had　laid　themselves　open　by　their　own　folly；　they　would　have　been　sobered　at　once；　self…respect　would　have　put　them　more　on　their　guard；　ESPECIALLY　IN　THEIR　INTERCOURSE　WITH　FOREIGNERS。　It　is；　no　doubt；　delightful　to　see　young　persons　free　from　every　suspicion；　no　one　would　wish　to　impose　a　single　restraint　beyond　what　is　necessary；　but；　surel