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！
a conspicuous place。 She was disposed to mistrust republican institutions； merely because she attributed every evil of the society about her； to this one cause： her opinions on this subject were； however； of no value whatever； for she knew nothing of other countries； their evils and abuses。 If warmly attached to her friends； she was certainly too indifferent to the community in which she lived。 She was very decided in all her actions and opinions： thus； for instance； she would never allow a newspaper； of any character whatever； to appear in her houseshe held every sheet alike； to be loose in principles； and vulgar in tone； because； unfortunately； there are many to be found which answer such a description。 An office…holder； and a speculator； she would never trust； and avoided every individual of either class as much as possible。 Her friends would have wished her more discriminating in her opinions； but she never obtruded these upon others。 Personally； no woman could be more respected by her intimates； there was nothing low or trivial in her character and turn of mindno shadow of vacillation in her principles or her feelings。 Mrs。 Stanley and her young friend Hazlehurst； much as they esteemed and respected each other； disagreed on many subjects。 Harry made a point of looking at both sides of a question； he was loyal to his country； and willing to serve it to the best of his abilitynot at all inclined to be an idler； and play the drone in the bee…hive； whether social or political。 Mrs。 Stanley had much regretted his being in any way connected with public life； but she seldom attempted to influence him。
〃What do you say； young ladies？〃 asked Harry； at length； turning towards Elinor and Mary Van Alstyne； who had hitherto thought the conversation of too personal a nature； to speak much themselves。 〃Do you think I had better stay at home； and look after the stock at Greatwood； or go to St。 Petersburg； and set up my droschky？〃
｛〃droschky〃 = a four…wheeled open carriage used in Russia｝
〃I should never have the least fancy for going to Russia；〃 replied Mary； 〃and； therefore； I am not much disposed to admire your constancy in adhering to Mr。 Henley。〃
〃Oh； go； by all means；〃 said Elinor； 〃you will see so much！ And be sure you go to the Crimea before you come home。〃
〃The Crimea is certainly a temptation；〃 observed Harry。 〃I beg； ladies； you will honour me with your commands for St。 Petersburg； some time during the next three months。 I refer you to Mrs。 Creighton for a certificate of good taste； her saya y manto is perfect in its way； I am told。〃
〃Perhaps I ought to have engaged Mrs。 Creighton on my side； before I tried to coax you into staying at home；〃 said Mrs。 Stanley； smiling。
We are obliged to confess that Harry coloured at this remark； in spite of a determination not to do so； and a great misdemeanour it was in a diplomatist； to be guilty of blushing； it clearly proved that Hazlehurst was still in his noviciate。 Happily； however； if the Department of State； at Washington； be sometimes more particular in investigating the party politics of its agents in foreign countries； than other qualifications； it is also certain； on the other hand； that they do not require by any means； as much bronze of countenance as most European cabinets。
｛〃bronze of countenance〃 = unblushingness； brazen lying｝
〃Oh； Mrs。 Creighton strongly recommends me to persevere in diplomacy；〃 said Harry。
Just at that moment； a note was brought in from this very lady。
〃With Mrs。 Creighton's compliments；〃 said the man who brought it。
Harry's colour rose again； and for a second he looked a little embarrassed。 Mrs。 Stanley smiled； and so did the young ladies； just a little。
〃I will look for the book immediately；'' was Harry's reply； and turning to the ladies； he communicated the fact； that Mrs。 Creighton had asked for the volume of engravings which he had shown to Mr。 Wyllys； two or three evenings before。 The book was in Miss Wyllys's room； and Elinor went for it。
〃Will you dine with us to…day； Harry； or at the other house？〃 asked Mrs。 Stanley。
｛〃other house〃 = i。e。； other hotel； Congress Hall and the United States being the two fashionable hotels in Saratoga Springs｝
〃Thank you； ma'am； I am engaged to dine with Mr。 Henley； who is only here for the day； and wishes to have a little business…talk with me。 We are to eat a bachelor's dinner together； in his room。〃
Elinor returned with the book； and Harry made his bow。
As he left the room； Mary Van Alstyne observed that Mr。 Hazlehurst seemed quite attentive to his friend's sister。 〃He admires the pretty widow； I fancy；〃 she said。
〃No wonder；〃 said Elinor； 〃Mrs。 Creighton is so very pretty； and very charming。〃
〃Yes； she is very pretty； with those spirited brown eyes； and beautiful teeth。 She is an adept in the art of dressing； too； and makes the most of every advantage。 But though she is so pretty； and so clever； and so agreeable； yet I do not like her。〃
〃People seem to love sometimes； men especially； where they do not like；〃 said Mrs。 Stanley。 〃I should not be surprised； at any time； to hear that Harry and Mrs。 Creighton are engaged。 I wish he may marry soon。〃
〃The lady is； at least； well…disposed for conquest； I think；〃 said Mary Van Alstyne。
〃She will probably succeed；〃 replied Elinor； in a quiet； natural voice。
Miss Agnes； who had just entered the room； heard the remark； and was gratified by the easy tone in which Elinor had spoken。 Since Hazlehurst's return； Elinor's manner towards him had been just what her aunt thought proper under the circumstances； it was quite unembarrassed and natural； though； of course； there was more reserve than during the years they had lived so much together； almost as brother and sister。 We are obliged to leave the ladies for the present； and follow Hazlehurst to his tete…a…tete dinner with Mr。 Henley。
We pass over the meal itself； which was very good in its way； nor shall we dare to raise the curtain； and reveal certain communications relating to affairs of state； political and diplomatic； which were discussed by the minister and his secretary。 Harry heard some Rio Janeiro news too； which seemed to amuse him； but would scarcely have any interest for the reader。 At length； as Mr。 Henley and Harry were picking their nuts； the minister happened to enquire the day of the month。
〃It is the twentieth； I believe； sir； and by the same token； to…morrow will be my birth…day；〃
〃Your birth…day； will it？How old may you be？〃
〃Twenty…seven； if I remember right。〃
〃I had thought you two or three years younger。 Well； I wish you a long life and a happy！〃
〃Thank you； sir； I am much obliged to you for the interest you have always shown me。〃
〃No need of thanks； Harry； it is only what your father's son had a right to expect from me。〃
A silence of a moment ensued； when Mr。 Henley again spoke。
〃You are seven…and…twenty； you say； Hazlehurst？let me give you a piece of advicedon't let the next ten years pass without marrying。〃
〃I was just about making up my mind； at Rio； to be a gay bachelor； my dear sir；〃 said Harry。
〃Yes； I remember to have heard you say something of the kind； but take my advice； and marry； unless you have some very good reason for not doing so。〃
Hazlehurst made no answer； but helped himself to another supply of nuts。 〃More easily said than done； perhaps；〃 he observed。
〃Nonsense！There are many amiable young women who would suit you； and it would be strange if you could not meet with one that would have you。 Some pretty； lady…like girl。 I dare say you know twenty such； in Philadelphia； or even here； at Saratoga。〃
〃Five hundred； no doubt；〃 replied Harry； 〃but suppose the very woman I should fancy； would not fancy me。〃 Whether he was thinking of his past experience with Jane； or not； we cannot say。
〃I don't see that a woman can find any reasonable fault with youyou do well enough； my good fellow； as the world goes； and I am sure there are； as you say； five hundred young women to choose from。 In that point a man has the best of it； young girls of a certain class； if not angels； are at least generally unexceptionable； but there are many men； unhappily； whose moral reputations are； and should be obstacles in a woman's eyes。〃
'A regular old bachelor's notion； a mere marriage of convenience；' thought Harry； who rather resented the idea of the five hundred congenial spirits； in the shape of suitable young ladies。
〃You are surprised； perhaps； to hear this from me；〃 continued Mr。 Henley。
〃No； sir： for I once before heard you express much the same opinion。〃
〃Did you？I don't often think or speak on such matters； but I remember to have heard you talk about a single life occasionally； at Rio； and I always intended to give this piece of advice to my nephews； and to you； Harry。 If I were to live my life over again； I should marry myself； for of late years I have felt the want of a home； and one can't have a pleasant home without the women。〃
〃There I agree with you； sir； entirely。〃
〃That is more than some gay； rattling young fellows would admit。 Since you think so；〃 continued Mr。 Henley； smiling； 〃perhaps you have also fixed upon some amiable young girl； who would be a pleasant companion for you。〃
H