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nted three months of probation would have expired； and he would either remain there as the affianced husband of Elinor； or leave Longbridge her rejected suitor。
During the past three months； Elinor had taken an important step in life； she had reached a point in experience； where she had never stood before。 The whole responsibility of deciding upon a subject； highly important to herself； and to those connected with her； had been thrown entirely upon her alone。 The fate of her whole life would be much involved in the present decision。 During the last two or three years； or in other words； since she had first discovered that Harry loved Jane； she had intended to remain single。 It seemed very improbable to her； that any one would seek to gain her affections； unless with the view of enjoying the fortune which she had now the reputation of possessing； it was only natural that she should exaggerate those personal disadvantages； which had lost the heart of him whom she had once loved so truly。 She had been so much attached to Hazlehurst； that she shrunk from the idea of ever becoming the wife of another； and she considered herself as having tacitly made choice of a single life； which her mother's letter seemed to suggest。 But as she never spoke of her views； or alluded to them； her grandfather and aunt were ignorant of this intention； and she soon began to observe with regret that they wished her to marry； and were indeed anxious that she should accept Mr。 Ellsworth。 This was the first occasion of any importance； on which their wishes and her own had been at variance； it was a new position for Elinor to be placed in。 When Mr。 Ellsworth made his proposal； it was owing to the strong； but affectionate representations of Mr。 Wyllys and Miss Agnes； that he was not immediately rejected。 Elinor was； in fact； the last person to be convinced of his regard for her； but she had known his character and standing too well to believe him a mere fortune…hunter； and after he had once offered himself； could not doubt his sincerity。 She mentioned to Miss Wyllys her previous intention of remaining single。
〃Make no rash decision； my love；〃 was the reply at the time。 〃You are too reasonable； for me to believe that you will do so； look at your own position； Elinor； you will be alone in the world； more so than most women。 Your grandfather is advanced in years； and my health warns me not to expect a long life。 I do not wish to distress you； but to place the truth plainly before you； my Elinor。 You have neither brother nor sister； Jane and Harry； your intimate companions in childhood； will be separated from you by ties and duties of their own。 What will you do； my child？ An affectionate disposition like yours cannot be happy alone。 On the other hand； here is Mr。 Ellsworth； who is certainly attached to you； a man of excellent character； with every important quality that can be desired。 You say you wish to be reasonable； judge for yourself what is the wisest course under these circumstances。〃
Elinor was silent for a moment； at length she spoke。
〃It has always been one of your own lessons to me； dearest aunt； to profit by the past； to improve the present； and leave the future to Providence。 Yet； now； you would have me think of the future only； and you urge me to marry； while you are single； and happy； yourself！〃
〃Yes； my child； but I have had your grandfather and you； to make me happy and useful。 Most single women have near relatives； to whom they can attach themselves； whom it is a duty and a pleasure to love and serve； but that is not your case。 Elinor； your grandfather is very anxious you should accept Mr。 Ellsworth。〃
〃I know it；〃 said Elinor； 〃he has told me so himself。〃
〃He is anxious； dear； because from what he knows of Mr。 Ellsworth and yourself； he is convinced you would eventually be happy； he fears you hesitate from some feeling of girlish romance。 Still； we have neither of us any wish to urge you too far。 Appeal to your own good； common sense； that is all that can be desired； do not be romantic； dear； for the first time in your life；〃 continued her aunt smiling。 〃I know the wishes of your friends will have some weight with you； do not let them control you； however。 Judge for yourself； but take time to reflect； accept Mr。 Ellsworth's own propositionwait some time before you give a final answer； that is all that your grandfather and myself can ask。〃
And such had been the decision； three months being the time appointed。 Since then； both Mr。 Wyllys and Miss Agnes had carefully refrained from expressing any farther opinionthey never even alluded to the subject； but left Elinor to her own reflections。 Such at least was their intention； but their wishes were well known to her； and very possibly； unconsciously influenced their conduct and manner； in many daily trifles； in a way very evident to Elinor。 In the mean time； September had come； and the moment for final decision was at hand。 Mr。 Ellsworth's conduct throughout had been very much in his favour； he had been persevering and marked in his attentions； without annoying by his pertinacity。 Elinor had liked him； in the common sense of the word； from the first； and the better she knew him； the more cause she found to respect his principles； and amiable character。 And yet； if left to her own unbiassed judgment； she would probably have refused him at first； with no other reluctance than that of wounding for a time the feelings of a man she sincerely esteemed。
The morning that Mrs。 Creighton and Mr。 Ellsworth left Wyllys…Roof； Elinor set out to take a stroll in the field； with no other companion than her friend Bruno。 The dog seemed aware that his mistress was absent and thoughtful； more indifferent than usual to his caresses and gambols； and； after having made this observation； the sagacious animal seemed determined not to annoy her； but walked soberly at her side； or occasionally trotting on before； he would stop； turn towards her； and sit in the path； looking at her as she slowly approached。 She had left the house； in order to avoid any intrusion on her thoughts； at a moment which was an important one to her； for she had determined； that after one more thorough examination of her own feelings； her own views； and the circumstances in which she was placed； the question should be irrevocably settledwhether she were to became the wife of Mr。 Ellsworth； or to remain single。 Many persons may fancy this a very insignificant matter to decide； and one that required no such serious attention。 But to every individual； that is a highly important point； which must necessarily affect the whole future course of life； the choice which involves so intimate and indissoluble a relation； where every interest in life is identical with one's own； is surely no trifling concern。 It may well be doubted； indeed； if even with men it be not a matter of higher importance than is commonly believed； observation； we think； would lead to the opinion； that a wife's character and conduct have a deeper and more general effect on the husband's career； for good or for evil； through his opinions and actions； than the world is aware of。 This choice certainly appeared a much more formidable step to Elinor； when Mr。 Ellsworth was the individual to be accepted or rejected； than it had when Harry stood in the same position。 In one case she had to reflect； and ponder； and weigh all the different circumstances； in the other； the natural bent of her affections had decided the question before it was asked。 But Elinor had； quite lately； settled half…a…dozen similar affairs； with very little reflection indeed； and without a moment's anxiety or regret； she had just refused； with polite indifference； several proposals； from persons whom she had every reason to believe； cared a great deal for her fortune； and very little for herself。 If thought were more active than feeling； in behalf of Mr。 Ellsworth； still； thought said a great deal in his favour。 She had always liked and respected him； she believed him attached to her； her nearest friends were anxious she should give a favourable answer； there could not be a doubt that he possessed many excellent and desirable qualities。 She would not be romantic； neither would she be unjust to Mr。 Ellsworth and herself； she would not accept him； unless she could do so frankly； and without reluctance。 This； then； was the question to be decidedcould she love Mr。 Ellsworth？ The free； spontaneous love； natural to early youth； she had once given to Hazlehurst； could she now offer to Mr。 Ellsworth sincere affection of another kind； less engrossing at first； less mingled with the charms of fancy； but often； perhaps on that account； more valuable； more enduring？ Sincere affection of any sort； is that only which improves with age； gaining strength amid the wear and tear of life。 It was to decide this question clearly； that Elinor had desired three months' delay。 These three months had nearly passed； when she again met Mr。 Ellsworth； in what character should she receive him？
The precise train of thought pursued by Elinor； during this morning stroll； we shall not attempt to follow； but that she was fully aware of the importance of the decision was evident； by the unusual absence of manner； which seemed to have struck