elinor wyllys-2-第9章

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s；　usually　surrounding　an　unmarried　woman；　possessing　the　reputation　of　a　fortune。　Wherever　Elinor　now　appeared；　the　name　of　a　fortune　procured　her　attention；　the　plain　face　which　some　years　before　had　caused　her　to　be　neglected　where　she　was　not　intimately　known；　was　no　longer　an　obstacle　to　the　gallantry　of　the　very　class　who　had　shunned　her　before。　Indeed；　the　want　of　beauty；　which　might　have　been　called　her　misfortune；　was　now　the　very　ground　on　which　several　of　her　suitors　founded　their　hopes　of　success；　as　she　was　pronounced　so　very　plain；　the　dandies　thought　it　impossible　she　could　resist　the　charm　of　their　own　personal　advantages。　Elinor　had；　in　short；　her　full　share　of　those　persecutions　which　are　sure　to　befall　all　heiresses。　The　peculiar　evils　of　such　a　position　affect　young　women　very　differently；　according　to　their　various　dispositions。　Had　Elinor　been　weak　and　vain；　she　would　have　fallen　into　the　hands　of　a　fortune…hunter。　Had　she　been　of　a　gloomy　temper；　disgust　at　the　coarse　plots　and　manoeuvres；　so　easily　unravelled　by　a　clear…sighted　person；　might　have　made　her　a　prey　to　suspicion；　and　all　but　misanthropic。　Had　she　been　vulgar…minded；　she　would　have　been　purse…proud；　if　cold…hearted；　she　would　have　become　only　the　more　selfish。　Vanity　would　have　made　her　ridiculously　ostentatious　and　conceited；　a　jealous　temper　would　have　become　self…willed　and　domineering。

Change　of　position　often　produces　an　apparent　change　of　character；　sometimes　the　effect　is　injurious；　sometimes　it　is　advantageous。　But　we　trust　that　the　reader；　on　renewing　his　acquaintance　with　Elinor　Wyllys；　will　find　her；　while　flattered　by　the　world　as　an　heiress；　essentially　the　same　in　character　and　manner；　as　she　was　when　overlooked　and　neglected　on　account　of　an　unusually　plain　face。　If　a　shade　of　difference　is　perceptible；　it　is　only　the　natural　result　of　four　or　five　years　of　additional　experience；　and　she　has　merely　exchanged　the　first　retiring　modesty　of　early　youth；　for　a　greater　portion　of　self…possession。

In　the　first　months　of　her　new　reputation　as　an　heiress；　Elinor　had　been　astonished　at　the　boldness　of　some　attacks　upon　her；　then；　as　there　was　much　that　was　ridiculous　connected　with　these　proceedings；　she　had　been　diverted；　but；　at　length；　when　she　found　them　rapidly　increasing；　she　became　seriously　annoyed。

〃What　a　miserable　puppet　these　adventurers　must　think　meit　is　cruelly　mortifying　to　see　how　confident　of　success　some　of　them　appear！〃　she　exclaimed　to　her　aunt。

〃I　am　very　sorry；　my　child；　that　you　should　be　annoyed　in　this　waybut　it　seems　you　must　make　up　your　mind　to　these　impertinencesit　is　only　what　every　woman　who　has　property　must　expect。〃

〃It　is　really　intolerable！　But　I　am　determined　at　least　that　they　shall　not　fill　my　head　with　suspicionsand　I　never　can　endure　to　be　perpetually　on　my　guard　against　these　sort　of　people。　It　will　not　do　to　think　of　them；　that　is　the　only　way　to　keep　one's　temper。　If　I　know　myself；　there　never　can　be　any　danger　to　me　from　men　of　that　kind；　even　the　most　agreeable。〃

〃Take　care；〃　said　Miss　Agnes；　smiling；　and　shaking　her　head。

〃Well；　I　know　at　least　there　is　no　danger　at　present；　but　as　we　all　have　moments　of　weakness；　I　shall　therefore　very　humbly　beg　that　if　you　ever　see　me　in　the　least　danger；　you　will　give　me　warning；　dear　Aunt；　a　very　sharp　warning；　if　you　please。〃

〃In　such　a　case　I　should　certainly　warn　you；　my　dear。　It　strikes　me　that　several　of　your　most　disagreeable　admirers〃　

〃How　call　you　call　them　ADMIRERS；　Aunt　Agnes？〃

〃Well；　several　of　your　pursuers；　then；　are　beginning　to　discover　that　you　are　not　a　young　lady　easily　persuaded　into　believing　herself　an　angel；　and　capable　of　fancying　them　the　most　chivalrous　and　disinterested　of　men。〃

This　was　quite　true；　there　was　a　quiet　dignity；　with　an　occasional　touch　of　decision　in　Elinor's　manner；　that　had　already　convinced　several　gentlemen　that　she　had　more　firmness　of　character　than　suited　their　views；　and　they　had　accordingly　withdrawn　from　the　field。

〃Suppose；　Elinor；　that　I　begin　by　giving　you　a　warning；　this　morning？〃　continued　Miss　Agnes；　smiling。

〃You　are　not　serious；　surely；　Aunt？〃　replied　Elinor；　turning　from　some　music　she　was　unpacking；　to　look　at　Miss　Wyllys。

〃Yes；　indeed；　I　am　serious；　so　far　as　believing　that　you　are　at　this　moment　exposed　to　the　manoeuvres　of　a　gentleman　whom　you　do　not　seem　in　the　least　to　suspect；　and　who　is　decidedly　agreeable。〃

〃Whom　can　you　mean？〃　said　Elinor；　running　over　in　her　head　the　names　of　several　persons　whom　she　had　seen　lately。　〃You　surely　do　not　suspectNo；　I　am　sure　you　have　too　good　an　opinion　of　him。〃

〃I　am　very　far　from　having　a　particularly　good　opinion　of　the　person　I　refer　to；〃　said　Miss　Agnes；　〃I　think　him　at　least；　nothing　better　than　a　fortune…hunter；　and　although　it　is　very　possible　to　do　many　worse　things　than　marrying　for　money；　yet　I　hope　you　will　never　become　the　wife　of　a　man　whose　principles　are　not　above　suspicion　in　every　way。〃　

〃I　am　disposed　just　at　present；　I　can　assure　you；　dear　Aunt；　to　have　a　particularly　poor　opinion　of　a　mere　fortune…hunter。〃

〃Yes；　you　do　not　seem　to　feel　very　amiably　towards　the　class；　just　now；〃　said　Miss　Agnes；　smiling。

〃But　who　is　the　individual　who　stands　so　low　in　your　opinion？〃

〃It　is　your　opinion；　and　not　mine；　which　is　the　important　one；〃　replied　Miss　Agnes。

〃Ah；　I　see　you　are　joking；　Aunt；　you　half　frightened　me　at　first。　As　far　as　having　no　fears　for　myself；　I　am　really　in　an　alarming　state。〃

〃So　it　would　seem。　But　have　you　really　no　suspicions　of　one　of　our　visiters　of　last　evening？〃

Elinor　looked　uneasy。

〃Is　it　possible；〃　she　said；　lowering　her　voice　a　little；　〃that　you　believe　Mr。　Ellsworth　to　be　a　common　fortune…hunter？　I　thought　you　had　a　very　different　opinion　of　him。〃

〃You　are　right；　my　child；〃　said　Miss　Agnes；　apparently　pleased　by　this　allusion　to　their　friend；　〃I　have；　indeed；　a　high　opinion　of　Mr。　Ellsworth；　but　he　was　not　our　only　visiter　last　evening；〃

〃Is　it　Mr。　Stryker？　I　have　half…suspected　some　such　thing　myself；　lately；　I　cannot　take　credit　for　so　much　innocence　as　you　gave　me。　But　it　is　not　worth　while　to　trouble　oneself　about　Mr。　Stryker；　he　is　certainly　old　enough；　and　worldly…wise　enough　to　take　care　of　himself。　If　he　actually　has　any　such　views；　his　time　will　be　sadly　thrown　away。　But　it　is　much　more　probable　that　he　is　really　in　love　with　Mrs。　Creighton；　and　it　would　be　very　ridiculous　in　me；　to　imagine　that　he　is　even　pretending　to　care　for　me；　when　he　is　attached　to　some　one　else。〃

〃He　may　flirt　with　Mrs。　Creighton；　but；　if　I　am　not　mistaken；　he　intends　to　offer　himself　before　long　to　Miss　Wyllys；　and　I　thought　you　had　not　remarked　his　advances。〃

〃I　fancy；　dear　Aunt；　that　men　like　Mr。　Stryker　seldom　commit　themselves　unless　they　feel　pretty　sure　of　success。〃

The　conversation　was　here　interrupted；　Elinor　was　engaged　to　ride　with　Mr。　Wyllys；　who　now　returned　from　the　reading…room　for　his　grand…daughter。　Mrs。　Creighton　was　also　going　out　with　her　brother；　and　proposed　the　two　parties　joining；　an　invitation　which　Mr。　Wyllys　had　very　readily　accepted。　The　horses　were　ordered；　Elinor　was　soon　equipped；　and　on　joining　Mrs。　Creighton　at　the　door；　she　was　assisted　to　mount　by　Mr。　Ellsworth。　Mr。　Stryker　had　also　been　invited　to　ride　with　them　by　the　pretty　widow。

It　was　a　lovely　morning；　and　they　moved　off　gaily　on　one　of　the　roads　leading　to　Saratoga　Lake；　Elinor　enjoying　the　air　and　the　exercise；　Mr。　Ellsworth　at　her　side；　doing　his　best　to　make　his　society　agreeable；　Mrs。　Creighton　engaged　in　making　a　conquest　of　the　two　gentlemen　between　whom　she　rode。　Yes；　we　are　obliged　to　confess　the　fact；　on　her　part　at　least；　there　was　nothing　wanting　to　make　up　a　flirtation　with　Mr。　Wyllys。　The　widow　belonged　to　that　class　of　ladies；　whose　thirst　for　admiration　really　seems　insatiable；　and　who　appear　anxious　to　compel　all　who　approach　them　to　feel　the　effect　of　their　charms。　Elinor　would　have　been　frightened；　had　she　been　aware　of　the　attack　made　that　morning　by　Mrs。　Creighton；　on　the　peace　of　her　excellent　grandfather；　now　in　his　seventy…third　year。　Not　that　the　lady　neglected　Mr。　Strykerby　no　means；　she　was　very　capable　of　managing　two　affairs　of　the　kind　at　the　same　moment。　All　the　remarks　she　addressed　particularly　to　Mr。　Wyllys；　were　sensible　and　lady…like；　those　she　made　to　Mr。　Stryker；　were　clever；　worldly；　and　piquant；　while　the　general　tone　of　her　conversation　was　always　a　well…bred　medley　of　much　fashionable　levity；　with　some　good　sense　and　propriety。　Mr。　Stryker　scarcely　knew　whether　to　be　pleased；　or　to　regret　that　he　was　obliged　to　ride　at　her　side。　He　had　lately　become　particularly　anxious　to　advance　in　the　good　graces　of　Miss　Elinor　Wyllys；　for　two　reasons；　he　had　lost　money；　and　was　very　desirous　of　appropriating　some　of　Elinor's　to　his　own　use；　and　he　had　also　felt　himself　to　be　in　imminent　danger　of　falling　in　love　with　Mrs。　Creighton；　and　he　wished　to　put　it　out　of　his　own　power　to　offer　himself　to　her　in　a　moment　of　weakness。　Much　as　he　admired　the　beauty；　the　wit；　and　the　worldly　spirit　of　the　pretty　widow；　he　was　half…afraid　of　her；　he　judged　her　by　himself；　he　knew　that　she　was　artful；　and　he　knew　that　she　was　poor；　for　her　late　husband；　Mr。　Creighton；　during　a　short　married　life；　had　run　through　all　his　wife's　property；　as　well　as　his　own；　and　his　widow　was　now　entirely　dependent　upon　her　brother。

The　attention　of　the　two　gentlemen　was　not；　however；　entirely　engrossed　by　Mrs。　Creighton。　Mr。　Stryker　was　by　no　means　willing　to　resign　the　field　to　his　rival；　Mr。　Ellsworth；　and　Mr。　Wyllys　was　not　so　much　charmed　by　the　conversation　of　his　fair　companion；　but　that　his　eye　could　rest　with　pleasure　on　the　couple　before　him；　as　he　thought　there　was　every　probability　that　Elinor　would　at　length　gratify　his　long…cherished　wish；　and　become　the　wife　of　a　man　he　believed　worthy　of　her。　As　the　party　halted　for　a　few　moments　on　the　bank　of　the　Lake；　Mr。　Wyllys　was　particularly　struck　with　the　expression　of　spirit　and　interest　with　which　Elinor　was　listening　to　Mr。　Ellsworth's　description　of　the　lakes　of　Killarney；　which　he　had　seen　during　his　last　visit　to　Europe；　and　when　the　gentleman　had　added　a　ludicrous　account　of　some　Paddyism　of　his　guide；　she　laughed　so　gaily　that　the　sound　rejoiced　her　grandfather's　heart。

Elinor　had　long　since　regained　her　former　cheerfulness。　For　a　time；　Harry's　desertion　had　made　her　sad；　but　she　soon　felt　it　a　duty　to　shake　off　every　appearance　of　gloom；　for　the　sake　of　her　grandfather　and　aunt；　whose　happiness　was　so　deeply　interwoven　with　her　own。　Religious　motives　also　strengthened　her　determination　to　resist　every　repining　feeling。　The　true　spirit　of　cheerfulness　is；　in　fact；　the　fruit　of　two　of　the　greatest　virtues　of　Christianitysteadfast　faith；　and　unfeigned　humility；　and　it　is　akin　to　thankfulness；　which　is　only　the　natural　consequence　of　a　sense　of　our　own　imperfections；　and　of　the　unmerited　goodness　of　Providence。

〃We　have　had　a　charming　ride；　Miss　Wyllys！〃　said　Mrs。　Creighton；　as　the　party　returned　to　the　hotel。

〃Very　pleasant；〃　said　Elinor。

〃Delightful！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Ellsworth。　〃I　hope　we　shall　have　such　another　every　day。〃

〃Then　I　must　try　and　find　an　animal；　with　rather　better　paces　than　t