elinor wyllys-2-第11章
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uture intentions； until he had actually committed himself more than once。 He had several times kindly offered to rich and beautiful girls； to take charge of themselves and their fortunes； but his services had been as often politely declined。 He was not discouraged； however； by these repulses； he still determined to marry； but experience had taught him greater prudencehe decided that his next advances should be made with more caution。 He would shun the great belles； fortune he must have； but he would adopt one of two courses； he would either look out for some very young and very silly girl； who could be persuaded into anything； or he would try to discover some rich woman； with a plain face； who would be flattered by the attentions of the agreeable Mr。 Stryker。 While he was making these reflections he was introduced to Elinor； and we are sorry to say it； she appeared to him to possess the desirable qualifications。 She was certainly very plain； and he found that there was no mistake in the report of her having received two important legacies quite lately。 Miss Elinor Wyllys； thanks to these bequests； to her expectations from her grandfather and Miss Agnes； and to the Longbridge railroad； was now generally considered a fortune。 It is true； common report had added very largely to her possessions； by doubling and quadrupling their amount； for at that precise moment； people seemed to be growing ashamed of mentioning small sums； thousands were invariably counted by round fifties and hundreds。 Should any gentleman be curious as to the precise amount of the fortune of Miss Elinor Wyllys； he is respectfully referred to William Cassius Clapp； Attorney at Law； Longbridge； considered excellent authority on all such subjects。 Lest any one should be disposed to mistrust this story of Elinor's newly…acquired reputation as an heiress； we shall proceed at once to prove it； by evidence of the most convincing character。
｛〃tout courte〃 = by itself； 〃period〃 （French）｝
One morning； shortly after the arrival of the Wyllyses at Saratoga； Mr。 Wyllys entered the room where Miss Agnes and Elinor were sitting together； with a handful of papers and letters from the mail。 Several of these letters were for Elinor； and as she reads them we shall take the liberty of peeping over her shouldertheir contents will speak for themselves。 The first which she took up was written on very handsome paper； perfumed； and in an envelope； but neither the seal nor the handwriting was known to Elinor。 It ran as follows：
〃CHARMING MISS WYLLYS：
〃It may appear presumptuous in one unknown to you； to address you on a subject so important as that which is the theme of this epistle； but not having the honour of your acquaintance； I am compelled by dire necessity； and the ardent feelings of my heart； to pour forth on paper the expression of the strong admiration with which you have inspired me。 Lovely Miss Wyllys； you are but too well known to me； although I scarcely dare to hope that your eye has rested for a moment on the features of your humble adorer。 I am a European； one who has moved in the first circles of his native land； and after commencing life as a military man； was compelled by persecution to flee to the hospitable shores of America。 Chequered as my life has been； happy； thrice happy shall I consider it； if you will but permit me to devote its remaining years to your service！ Without your smiles； the last days of my career will be more gloomy than all that have gone before。 But I cannot believe you so cruel； so hard…hearted； as to refuse to admit to your presence； one connected with several families of the nobility and gentry in the north of England； merely because the name of Horace de Vere has been sullied by appearing on the stage。 Let me hope〃
Elinor read no farther： she threw the letter aside with an expression of disgust and mortification。 It was but one of half…a…dozen of similar character； which she had received during the last year or two from utter strangers。 She took up another； a plain； honest…looking sheet。
〃MADAM：
〃If the new store； being erected on your lot in Market Street； between Fourth and Fifth； is not already leased； you will confer an obligation if you will let us know to whom we must apply for terms； &c。； &c。 The location and premises being suitable； we should be glad to rent。 The best of references can be offered on our part。
〃Begging you will excuse this application； as we are ignorant of the name of your agent in Philadelphia； we have the honour to be； Madam；
〃Your most obedient servants；
〃McMUNNY & CO。；
〃Grocers； Market； between Front and Second。〃
A business letter； it appears； to be attended to accordingly。 Now for the thirda delicate little envelope of satin paper； blue wax； and the seal 〃semper eadem。〃
｛〃semper eadem〃 = always the same （Latin）｝
〃MY SWEET MISS ELINOR：
〃When shall we see you at Bloomingdale？ You are quite too cruel； to disappoint us so often； we really do not deserve such shabby treatment。 Here is the month of June； with its roses； and strawberries； and ten thousand other sweets； and among them you must positively allow us to hope for a visit from our very dear friends at Wyllys…Roof。 Should your venerable grandpapa； or my excellent friend； Miss Wyllys be unhappily detained at home； as you feared； do not let that be the means of depriving us of your visit。 I need not say that William would be only too happy to drive you to Bloomingdale； at any time you might choose； but if that plan； HIS plan； should frighten your propriety； I shall be proud to take charge of you myself。 Anne is not only pining for your visit； but very tired of answering a dozen times a day； her brother's questions； 'When shall we see Miss Wyllys？''Is Miss Wyllys never coming？'
〃I do not think； my sweet young friend； that you can have the heart to disappoint us any longerand； therefore； I shall certainly look for one of your charming little notes； written in an amiable； complying mood。
〃Anne sends her very best love； William begs to be very PARTICULARLY remembered to Miss Elinor Wyllys。
〃With a thousand kind messages to your grandfather and Miss Wyllys； I remain as ever； my dear young friend；
〃Yours； most devotedly and partially；
〃ARABELLA HUNTER。〃
｛〃Bloomingdale〃 = a fashionable and still rural area of Manhattan Island； though technically part of New York City｝
Elinor read this note with a doubtful smile； which seemed to say she was half…amused； half…provoked by it。 Throwing it carelessly on the sofa； she opened the fourth letter； it was in a childish hand。
〃MY DEAR MISS WYLLYS：
〃My mother wishes me to thank you myself； for your last act of goodness to usbut I can never tell you all we feel on the subject。 My dear mother cried with joy all the evening； after she had received your letter。 I am going to school according to your wish； as soon as mother can spare me； and I shall study very hard； which will be the best way of thanking you。 The music…master says he has no doubt but I can play well enough to give lessons； if I go on as well as I have in the last year； I practise regularly every day。 Mother bids me say； that now she feels sure of my education for the next three years； one of her heaviest cares has been taken away： she says too； that although many friends in the parish have been very good to us； since my dear father was taken away from us； yet 'no act of kindness has been so important to us； none so cheering to the heart of the widow and the fatherless； as your generous goodness to her eldest child；' these are her own words。 Mother will write to you herself to…morrow。 I thank you again； dear Miss Wyllys； for myself； and I remain； very respectfully and very gratefully；
〃Your obliged servant and friend；
〃MARY SMITH。〃
This last letter seemed to restore all Elinor's good humour； acting as an antidote to the three which had preceded it。 The correspondence which we have taken the liberty of reading； will testify more clearly than any assurance of ours； to the fact that our friend Elinor now stands invested with the dignity of an heiress； accompanied by the dangers； pleasures； and annoyances； usually surrounding an unmarried woman； possessing the reputation of a fortune。 Wherever Elinor n
