elinor wyllys-2-第26章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


constant　contrast　with　Mrs。　Creighton。　He　scarcely　regretted　now；　his　little　prospect　of　favour　with　the　heiress；　for　the　poorer　widow　had　completely　fascinated　him　by　her　graceful　flatteries；　the　piquancy　of　her　wit；　and　her　worldliness；　which；　with　Mr。　Stryker；　passed　for　her　wisdom。　Even　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　though　prejudiced　against　her；　was　obliged　to　confess；　as　she　watched　Mrs。　Creighton；　that　she　admired　her。　The　lady　had　thrown　herself　on　the　grass　in　a　graceful　position；　excited　by　admiration；　she　had　a　brilliant　colour；　her　dress　was　always　studiously　fashionable　and　becoming；　in　its　minutest　details；　her　amusing　remarks　flowed　freely　from　a　conscience　under　no　other　restraints　than　those　of　policy　or　good…breeding；　and　her　manner；　though　always　studied　for　effect；　was　particularly　well　studied　and　agreeable。　Her　companions　thought　her　charming。　Elinor；　at　the　same　moment；　was　standing　by　her　side；　in　a　simple　dress；　with　no　attempt　to　disguise　a　plain　face　under　finery；　and　in　a　perfectly　quiet　position；　which　was　graceful　without　her　knowing　it。　Her　whole　manner；　indeed；　was　always　natural；　its　simplicity　was　its　great　charm；　for　one　felt　confident　that　her　grace　and　sweetness；　her　ease　and　quiet　dignity；　flowed　readily　from　her　character　itself。　Whether　these　ideas　occurred　to　any　of　the　party　besides　Miss　Van　Alstyne；　we　cannot　say；　it　is　certain；　however；　that　Mrs。　Creighton　was　all　prepared　for　observation；　Elinor；　as　usual；　quite　regardless　of　it。

〃We　must　carry　off　some　flowers　from　May…day　island；〃　said　Mr。　Ellsworth；　preparing　to　gather　a　bouquet　for　Elinor。　He　had　soon　succeeded　in　collecting　quite　a　pretty　bunch；　composed　of　wild　roses；　blue　hare…bells；　the　white　blossoms　of　the　wild　clematis；　the　delicate　pink　clusters　of　the　Alleghany　vine；　and　the　broad…leaved　rose…raspberry；　with　several　other　varieties。

｛〃Alleghany　vine〃　=　a　flowering　wild　vine；　which　had　been　a　favorite　of　Susan　Fenimore　Cooper's　paternal　grandmother　Elizabeth　Fenimore　Cooper｝

Mr。　Stryker　offered　a　bouquet　to　Mrs。　Creighton。

〃It　is　really　quite　pretty；　but　to　make　it　complete；　I　must　have　one　of　those　scarlet　lobelias；　on　the　next　island；　they　are　the　first　I　have　seen　this　season。　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　do　be　good…natured；　and　step　into　that　boat；　and　bring　me　one。〃

〃I　can　do　that　without　the　boat；　Mrs。　Creighton；　here　is　a　bridge；〃　replied　Harry；　springing　on　the　trunk　of　a　dead　tree；　which　nearly　reached　the　islet　she　had　pointed　out；　catching　the　branch　of　an　oak　on　the　opposite　shore；　he　swung　himself　across。　The　flowers　were　soon　gathered；　and；　after　a　little　difficulty　in　reaching　the　dead　tree；　he　returned　to　the　ladies；　just　as　they　were　about　to　embark　again。　Perhaps　he　had　caught　a　spark　of　the　spirit　of　coquetry　from　Mrs。　Creighton；　and　resented　her　flirting　so　much　with　Mr。　Stryker；　for　he　did　not　give　her　all　the　flowers　he　had　gathered；　but　offered　a　few　to　each　lady　as　she　entered　the　boat。

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Hazlehurst；　very　gallantly　done；〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton；　placing　one　of　the　lobelias；　with　a　sprig　of　Mr。　Stryker's；　in　her　belt。

As　they　rowed　leisurely　along；　Charlie　Hubbard　pointed　out　some　of　the　localities　to　Miss　Wyllys　and　Robert　Hazlehurst。

〃These　mountains　are　very　different　in　their　character；　Mr。　Hubbard；　from　those　you　have　recently　been　sketching　in　Italy　and　Switzerland；〃　observed　Mr。　Ellsworth。

〃Entirely　different；　their　forms　are　much　less　bold　and　decided。〃

〃Yes；　all　the　mountains　in　this　country；　east　of　the　Mississippi；　partake；　more　or　less；　of　the　same　character；　forming　rounded　ridges；　seldom　broken　into　those　abrupt；　ragged　peaks；　common　in　other　parts　of　the　world。〃

〃But　the　elevation　of　these　mountains　is　much　less　than　that　of　the　Alps；　or　high　Apennines；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys；　〃do　not　the　mountains　in　Europe；　of　the　same　height；　resemble　these　in　formation？〃

〃No；　sir；　I　think　not；〃　replied　Ellsworth。　〃They　are　generally　more　bold　and　barren；　often　mere　masses　of　naked　rock。　I　am　no　geologist；　but　it　strikes　me　that　the　whole　surface　of　the　earth；　in　this　part　of　the　world；　differs　in　character　from　that　of　the　eastern　continent；　on　one　hand；　the　mountains　are　less　abrupt　and　decided　in　their　forms　with　us；　and　on　the　other；　the　plains　are　less　monotonous　here。　If　our　mountains　are　not　grand；　the　general　surface　of　the　country　seems　more　varied；　more　uneven；　there　is　not　so　large　a　proportion　of　dead　level　in　this　country　as　in　France；　Germany；　Russia；　for　instance；　we　have　much　of　what　we　call　a　rolling　countryeven　the　prairies；　which　are　the　plains　of　this　region；　show　the　same　swelling　surface。〃

〃The　variety　of　character　in　the　landscape　of　different　countries；　must　be　a　great　charm　to　one　of　your　profession；　Hubbard；〃　observed　Harry。　〃A　landscape　painter　must　enjoy　travelling　more　than　any　other　man；　nothing　is　lost　upon　youevery　time　you　look　about　you　there　is　something　new　to　observe。　How　you　must　have　enjoyed　the　change　from　the　general　aspect　of　this　countryfresh；　full　of　life　and　motion；　yet　half…finished　in　the　detailsto　old　Italy；　where　the　scenery　and　atmosphere　are　in　perfect　harmony　with　the　luxurious　repose　of　a　great　antiquity！〃

〃I　did　indeed　enjoy　the　change　beyond　expression！〃　exclaimed　Charlie。　〃I　have　often　felt　thankful；　in　the　best　sense　of　the　word；　that　I　have　been　enabled　to　see　those　great　countries；　Italy　and　Switzerland；　it　has　furnished　me　with　materials　for　thought　and　delight；　during　a　whole　lifetime。〃

〃It　would　be　a　good　plan　to　get　you　appointed　painting　attache　to　the　Legation；　Hubbard；〃　said　Harry。　〃As　you　have　seen　the　south　of　Europe；　would　you　not　like　to　take　a　look　at　the　northern　regions？〃

〃Not　much；〃　replied　Charlie。　〃I　should　have　nothing　but　ice　to　paint　there；　for　half　the　year。〃

〃Well；　I　suppose　there　is　something　selfish　in　my　wish　to　carry　you　to　the　North　Pole；　but　when　I　was　in　Brazil；　I　had　a　very　disinterested　desire　that　you　should　see　the　Bay　of　Rio。〃

〃Is　it　really　so　beautiful？〃　asked　Elinor。

〃Yes；　finer　even　than　Naples；　as　regards　scenery；　though　it　wants；　of　course；　all　the　charm　of　recollection　which　belongs　to　the　old　world。〃

〃You　must　forget　everything　like　fine　scenery　when　you　go　to　St。　Petersburg；〃　said　Robert　Hazlehurst。

〃Not　at　all；　I　hope　to　take　a　trip　to　the　Crimea　while　I　am　in　Russia。　I　shall　do　my　best　to　ingratiate　myself　with　the　owner　of　some　fine　villa　on　the　Black　Sea。〃

〃And　have　you　really　made　up　your　mind　to　be　a　regular　diplomatist？〃　asked　Mr。　Wyllys。

〃For　a　time；　sir；　so　long　as　I　can　serve　under　Mr。　Henley；　or　a　man　like　him。〃

〃I　used　to　see　a　good　deal　of　Henley；　some　twenty　years　since；〃　observed　Mr。　Wyllys。　〃I　should　think　him　particularly　well　fitted　for　his　duties。〃

〃I　have　the　highest　respect　for　him；〃　replied　Harry。

〃He　is　a　good　model　for　an　American　diplomatist；〃　added　Robert　Hazlehurst。　〃A　man　of　ability；　good　education；　and　just　principles；　with　simple；　gentlemanly　manners；　always　manly　in　his　tone；　and　firm　as　a　rock　on　all　essential　points。〃

〃But　those　are　only　a　small　portion　of　the　qualifications　of　a　diplomatist；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker。　〃According　to　the　most　approved　models；　the　largest　half　should　be　cunning。〃

〃Mr。　Henley　is　particularly　clear…sightednot　easily　deceived　either　by　himself　or　by　others；　and　that　is　all　that　American　diplomacy　requires；〃　said　Harry。　〃I　am　proud　to　say　that　our　government　does　not　give　us　any　dirty　work　to　do；　we　have　chiefly　to　act　on　the　defensive。〃

〃Set　a　thief　to　catch　a　thief；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker；　with　his　usual　dry　manner。　〃I　don't　believe　in　the　full　success　of　your　virtuous　diplomatist。　How　is　a　man　to　know　all　the　turnings　and　windings　of　the　road　that　leads　to　treaties；　unless　he　has　gone　over　it　himself？〃

〃But　an　honest　man；　if　he　is　really　clear…headed　and　firm；　has　no　need　of　these　turnings　and　windings；　he　goes　more　directly　to　the　point；　and　saves　a　vast　deal　of　time　and　principle；　by　taking　a　more　honourable　road。〃

〃Suppose　a　man　has　to　make　black　look　white；　I　should　like　to　see　your　honourable　diplomatist　manage　such　a　job；〃　said　Mr。　Stryker。

〃But　our　government　has　never　yet　had　such　jobs　to　manage。　We　have　never　yet　made　a　demand　from　a　foreign　power　that　we　have　not　beli