elinor wyllys-2-第62章
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Little was it thought; that never again could the same circle be re…united at Wyllys…Roof; all who crossed the threshold that night were not to return。
CHAPTER XX。 {XLIII}
〃I pr'ythee hear me speak!〃 Richard III。
{William Shakespeare; 〃Richard III〃; IV。iv。180}
HAZLEHURST had gone out with his friends; and continued walking on the piazza; first with Charlie and then with Ellsworth; at length Mrs。 Stanley called him from the window to say good…bye; as she did not expect to see him again before the cruise; the other ladies also wished him a pleasant excursion at the same moment。
〃Good fishing and no musquitoes {sic}which; I take it; is all that is desirable on such an occasion;〃 said Mrs。 Creighton; smiling brightly but carelessly; as she offered her hand。
〃Thank you; I suppose you have no commands for Cape Cod?〃
〃None at all; I believe; unless you can bring us the true Yankee receipt for chowder; which Mr。 Stryker was explaining this evening。〃
〃You will be off so early to…morrow that we shall scarcely see you; Harry;〃 said Miss Wyllys。 〃You must come back to us; however; and fall into the old habit of considering Wyllys…Roof as home; whenever you please;〃 she added kindly。
Harry's thanks were expressed with feeling。
〃And in the mean time I hope you will have a pleasant cruise;〃 said Elinor。 〃Fair winds and better prospects attend you!〃and as she raised her eyes; Harry observed they had filled with tears when she made this allusion to his difficulties。 Perhaps Ellsworth made the same remark; and appreciated her kindness; for when Elinor turned to wish him good…night we strongly suspect that his countenance said so; there could be no doubt at least; that she blushed at the time; though pale but a moment before。
After the ladies had gone; Mr。 Wyllys and Ellsworth went off together; and Harry returned to the piazza。
It was perhaps inconsiderate in Hazlehurst to continue walking so late; for the sound of his footsteps fell regularly on the stillness of the night; long after the family had gone to rest; and may possibly have disturbed some of his friends; but many busy thoughts of the past and the future crowded on his mind; while pacing that familiar spot; the piazza of Wyllys…Roof。 It is time that these thoughts should be partially revealed to the reader; and for that purpose we must pause a moment; in order to look backward。
Long since; Harry's heart had warmed again towards his old playfellow; Elinor。 As soon as the first novelty of a life at Rio had worn off; Harry; whose affections were strong; began to miss his old friends; the more so; since Mr。 Henley; although his principles and talents entirely commanded his secretary's esteem; was not a pleasant companion in every…day life。 Hazlehurst soon began to contrast the minister's formal; old bachelor establishment with the pleasant house of his friend Ellsworth; where Mrs。 Creighton did the honours charmingly; and with the cheerful home of his brother; where his sister…in…law always received him kindly: still oftener be compared the cold; stately atmosphere which seemed to fill Mr。 Henley's house; with the pleasant; genial spirit which prevailed at Wyllys…Roof; where everything excellent wore so amiable an aspect。 Until lately he had always been so closely connected with the family there; that he accused himself of not having done full justice to all their worth。 He took a pleasure in dwelling on Mr。 Wyllys's high moral character; so happily tempered by the benevolence of cheerful old age; he remembered the quiet; unpretending virtues of Miss Wyllys; always mingled with unvarying kindness to himself; and could he forget Elinor; whose whole character was so engaging; uniting strength of principle and intelligence; with a disposition so lovely; so endearing? A place in this family had been his; his for life; and he had trifled with it; rejected it; worse than thatwell he knew that the best place in Elinor's generous heart had once been wholly his; he had applied for it; he had won it; and what return had he made for her warmest affections? He had trifled with her; the world said he had jilted her; jilted the true…hearted Elinor; his friend and companion from childhood! Knowing her as well as he did; he had treated her as if she were a mere ball…room coquette; he had forgotten her as soon as if it had been a mere holiday fancy of a boy of fifteen。 He had been completely infatuated; dazzled; blinded by a beautiful face。 That it was sheer infatuation was now evident; for; absent from both Elinor and Jane; all feeling for the latter seemed to have vanished like a dream。 It is said that love without hope cannot live: the question must be settled by those who have suffered most frequently from the wounds of Cupid; but it seems evident; at least from Harry's experience; that love which has fed plentifully upon hopes for some months; when suddenly put upon a change of diet; and receiving a large dose of mortification to boot; falls immediately into a rapid decline。 The recollection of his fancy for Jane was now unpleasant under every aspect; but where it was connected with Elinor he soon began to consider it as particularly painful。 He regretted that he had engaged Elinor in the hasty; boyish manner he had done; before going abroad; had he not taken this step; the momentary mortification of a refusal by Jane would have been the only evil; Elinor would not have suffered; and all might have gone well。 Gradually the idea gained upon him; that it was not impossible to repair the past。 His conduct had been unpardonable; no doubt; yet; perhaps it might be forgiven。 But even if Elinor could forget his inexcusable fickleness; would her friends ever consent to risk her future peace with one who had so recklessly trifled with her already? Mr。 Wyllys had been deeply indignant at his conduct; his whole manner had changed; there had been a cold civility in it when they had met; which Harry had felt keenlyit amounted almost to contempt。 Miss Wyllys; too; was no longer the kind; indulgent Aunt Agnes of his boyhood; there was a very decided coldness and reserve in her whole expression; which it seemed all but impossible to overcome。 He wished; however; that he had it in his power to make advances towards a reconciliation; he was prepared for merited coldness at first; but he would willingly submit to it as a just penance; if he could but hope eventually to regain his position with Elinor。 Such a wife as Elinor would be; was worth a serious struggle to obtain。 Then; at other moments; this idea appeared preposterous to him; how could the Wyllyses ever forgive him after so keen an insult; so cruel a blow? No; it was a dream; he would not indulge in it any longer; he would not think of marrying; he would turn out an old bachelor diplomatist; like Mr。 Henley。 It is not to be supposed that Mrs。 Creighton was entirely forgotten in these reveries of Harry's; which formed occasional interludes to his diplomatic labours while at Rio。 On the contrary she was remembered quite frequently; and every one who knew her must always think of the pretty widow as a charming woman; clever; 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 h