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〃Butwhat would you say; Miss Wyllys?go on; I entreat!〃 exclaimed Mr。 Ellsworth。

It was a moment before Elinor rallied。 She then continued; in a low voice; and in an agitated; hesitating manner:

〃Mr。 Ellsworth; I shall speak with perfect frankness; your kindness and forbearance deserve it。 When I consented to wait so long before giving you a final answer; it was chiefly that I might discover if I could regain entire command over feelings which have not always been my own。 I am afraid you are not aware of this。 The feeling itself to which I allude is changed; but be it weakness or not; it has left traces for life。 I was willing to make an experiment in favour of one who deserved the full confidence of my friends and myself; but the trial has not succeeded; if I know myself; it can never succeedI shall never marry。〃

And then after a moment's silence she gently continued; in a calmer tone:

〃But you will soon forget all this; I trust。 You will find elsewhere some one more worthy of you; one who can better repay your kindness。〃

Mr。 Ellsworth chafed a little under this suggestion; though not so much as a more passionate man might have done。

〃To forget one of so much womanly excellence as yourself; Miss Wyllys; is not the easy task you seem to suppose。〃

Elinor could have sighed and smiled as the thought recurred to her; that Harry had not found it very difficult to forget her。 They had now reached the gate; on their way home; and turning towards her companion as they entered; she said:

〃I hope; indeed; you will always remember that you have very sincere friends at Wyllys…Roof; Mr。 Ellsworth; believe me; friends capable of appreciating your merits; and aware of what is their due。〃

Mr。 Ellsworth thanked her; but he looked very evidently disturbed。 When they reached the piazza he helped Elinor from her horse; perhaps more carefully than usual; Miss Emma Taylor and her cavalier had already arrived; and the young lady immediately attacked Mr。 Ellsworth; bidding him remember his bet。 When Mrs。 Creighton stepped from the chair; she looked for her brother and Elinor; a little curious to discover if anything decisive had passed; but both had already entered the house。

Mr。 Wyllys learned in the course of the day; from Ellsworth himself; that he had been rejected; he was very much disappointed; and more disposed to find fault with Elinor than he had ever been before。

〃I am afraid you have not acted wisely; Elinor;〃 said her grandfather; words more like a reproof than any that Elinor could remember to have heard fall from his lips; addressed to herself。

Miss Agnes also evidently regretted her niece's decision; but she said nothing on the subject。 As for Mrs。 Creighton; she thought it all easy to be understood。

〃You may say what you please; Frank; about Miss Wyllys; but you will never persuade me she is not a coquette。〃 

But this Mr。 Ellsworth would by no means allow。

Elinor laid her head on her pillow that night with the unpleasant reflection; that four persons under the same roof were reproaching her for the step she had taken that day。 But she herself knew that she had acted conscientiously。



CHAPTER XXI。 {XLIV}

〃Such news; my lord; as grieves me to unfold。〃 Henry IV。 {sic}

{William Shakespeare; 〃Richard III〃; II。iv。39}

THE Petrel was a very pretty little schooner; pronounced a crack craft by the knowing ones。 She sat so buoyantly on the water when motionless; and glided along so gracefully when under way; that even landsmen and landswomen must have admired her。 Let it not be supposed that the word landswomen is here used unadvisedly: although the Navy Department is decidedly ungallant in its general character; and seldom allows ladies to appear on board ship; excepting at a collation or a ball; yet it is well known that in some of the smaller sea…port towns; the female portion of the population are so much interested in nautical matters; and give so much time and attention to the subject; that they are looked upon as very good judges of spars and rigging; and it is even affirmed; that some of these charming young 〃salts〃 are quite capable of examining a midshipman on points of seamanship。 If fame has not belied them; such are the accomplishments of the belles of Norfolk and Pensacola; while the wives and daughters of the whalers at Nantucket; are said to have also a critical eye for the cut of a jib and the shape of a hull。 Hubert de Vaux hoped they had; for he thought it a pity that the Petrel's beauties should be thrown away。

On the morning they sailed; when Elinor had watched the boat as she lay in the river; they had been waiting for Bruno。 Harry wished to carry the dog with him; but after following Hazlehurst to the boat; he had returned home again; he was; however; enticed on board; and they hoisted sail; and slowly moved out of sight。

In spite of some little delay; the Petrel made a very good day's work。 That night and the following the party slept on board; and seemed very well satisfied with their quarters; they intended to run out of sight of land before the end of their cruise; but as yet they had landed every few hours for fresh water; vegetables; milk; &c。; as it did not enter at all into their calculations to be put on a short allowance of anything desirable。 On the afternoon of the third day; the Petrel reached the wharf of a country place on Long…Island; where the party landed; according to a previous invitation; and joined some friends for a couple of days' shooting; which proved a pleasant variety in the excursion; the sport was pronounced good; and the gentlemen made the most of it。 Mr。 Stryker; however; complained that the pomp and circumstance of sporting was wanted in this country。

〃So long as we have the important items of good guns; good marksmen; and real wild…game; we need not find fault;〃 said Harry。

Many lamentations succeeded; however; upon the rapid disappearance of game from all parts of the country。

〃There I have the best of it;〃 said Mr。 Stryker to his host。 〃In the next twenty years you may expect to find your occupation gone; but I shall at least have fishing in abundance all my days; though at times I am not quite so sure of the brook…trout。〃

〃I don't think Jonathan will be able to exterminate all the trout in the land;〃 said Hazlehurst; although he is a shamefully wasteful fellow; but I really think there is some danger for the oysters; if the population increases; and continues to eat them; in the same proportion they do now; I am afraid Jonathan of the next generation will devour the whole species。〃

〃Jonathan〃 = the American (from 〃Brother Jonathan〃)}

》From Glen…Cove the Petrel made a reach across the Sound to Sachem's…Head; where Mr。 Stryker enjoyed to perfection the luxuries of clam…soup; lobster…salad; and chowder。

Their next port was Nantucket。 They happened to arrive there just before a thunder…shower; and Charlie Hubbard was much struck with the wild; desolate look of the island。 He pointed out to Hazlehurst the fine variety of neutral tints to be traced in the waves; in the low sand…banks; and the dark sky forming the back…ground。 Nantucket is a barren spot; indeed; all but bare of vegetation; scarcely a shrub will grow there; and even the tough beach…grass is often swept away in large tracts; while the forms of the sand…hills vary with every storm。 The town itself; however; is a busy; lively little spotone of the most nautical in feeling and character to be found on the globe。 The chief interests of the inhabitants centre in the ocean; and even the very ornaments of their houses are spoils of the deep; shells and fish…bones from distant latitudes; and sailor's fancy…work in various materials; all connected in some way with the sea。 Charlie made a sketch of the island; and determined to return there and paint a picture of some size。 The next day; which was Sunday; they remained at Nantucket; there is a pretty little church in the town; and Charlie; Harry; and Mr。 Smith attended service there; the rest of the gentlemen preferring to idle away the morning in a less praiseworthy manner。

One of young de Vaux's crew was taken sick here; and he was obliged to secure another man before leaving the island; it was easy to 

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