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have ten times more fun at Rockaway； Colonnade Manor was the stupidest place in creation； we were often a whole day without seeing a beau！〃
At length； Miss Emma having declared herself more than sufficiently rested； she put on the habit； and the chair and horses were brought to the door。 Mr。 Taylor was to set out shortly after； in another direction； to go over the manufactory in which he was about to become interested。
All agreed that the day was delightful。 There was a fine air； the dust had been laid by a shower； and as the road led through several woods； they had not too much sun。 For a while the four equestrians kept together； and common…place matters only were talked over； the Petrel was not forgotten。 Miss Emma Taylor declared she would have gone along； if she had been on the spot when they sailed。 Bob de Vaux said his brother Hubert had offered to take him； but he did not care to go； he had rather ride than sail； any day。
〃Here's for a gallop then！〃 exclaimed the young lady； and off the two set at a rapid pace。
〃How does that flirtation come on？〃 asked Miss Emma； when they lessened their pace at some distance in advance of the rest of the party。
〃All settled； I believe；〃 replied the youth。
〃What； actually engaged？ I have been quite exercised about all your doings over here； this summer； you must have had a lively time； three or four flirtations all going on at once。 But； do you know I am bent on spiting Mr。 Ellsworth this morning。 He meant to have a tete…a…tete； I know； and only asked YOU just to get rid of ME。 But he shan't have a moment's peace to pay for it； let's turn round and go back again at full speed。〃
Bob de Vaux had not the least objections； he liked motion and mischief almost as much as did the lively belle； they both enjoyed the joke exceedingly； and succeeded in provoking Mr。 Ellsworth not a little。 Miss Emma and her companion were in high glee at their success； they would first ride half a mile by the side of the others； then gallop off to a distance； and at a signal from the young lady； suddenly facing about they would return； just in time； as Miss Emma thought； to cut short any tender speech。
〃That young lady seems to have gone twice over every foot of the road；〃 innocently observed Mr。 Wyllys； little aware of her object。
〃What a restless creature it is！〃 replied Mrs。 Creighton； 〃she must worry her horse as much as she annoys her rational companions。〃
〃Miss Taylor is a perfect rattle；〃 remarked Mr。 Ellsworth。 〃Quite inferior to her sister； Mrs。 Hunter； I should say。〃
｛〃a rattle〃 = a chatterbox｝
〃Her excess of spirits will wear itself out one of these days； I dare say；〃 replied Elinor。
〃It is to be hoped so；〃 said the gentleman； drily。
When they reached the lake they dismounted； and passed half an hour at a farm…house； to rest； and lunch upon iced milk and dew…berries； which the farmer's wife kindly offered them。 Mrs。 Creighton professed herself rather disappointed with Chewattan Lake； the shores were quite low； there was only one good hill； and one pretty； projecting point； with a fine group of elms standing in graceful relief against the sky； she thought Mr。 Hubbard's painting had flattered nature。 Mr。 Ellsworth would not allow that Charlie ever flattered； but remarked that it was his peculiar merit； to throw a charm about the simplest water scene； and his last view of Chewattan Lake was certainly one of his happiest pictures。
｛〃dew…berries〃 = blackberries； 〃happiest〃 = most successful｝
On their way home； Miss Emma and her companion again commenced their quizzing system。 Towards the end of the ride； however； the young lady relaxed a little in her vigilance； when they reached a turnpike…gate； about two miles from Wyllys…Roof； she suddenly proposed to Bob de Vaux to run a race with Elinor and Mr。 Ellsworth。
〃What do you say to it； Miss Wyllys？〃
〃Excuse me； I had much rather not。〃
〃Oh； but you don't know what I mean。 Now； you and Mr。 Ellsworth go cantering and trotting along； in such a sober； Darby and Joan fashion； that I am sure Mr。 de Vaux and I can turn off here； take this by…road； which you know comes in nearly opposite your gate； and although it is twice as far round； I bet you a pair of gloves we are at Wyllys…Roof before you。〃
｛〃Darby and Joan fashion〃 = like an old married couple｝
〃Done！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Ellsworth； delighted with the idea； and off the young lady gallopped ｛sic｝ with her companion。
It is not to be supposed that the gentleman allowed the half…hour that followed to pass unimproved。 He could speak at last； and he admired Elinor too sincerely； not to express himself in terms both warm and respectful。 Although Elinor had been for some time fully prepared for this declaration； yet she did not receive it without betraying feeling and embarrassment。 Emotion in woman； at such moments； or in connexion with similar subjects； is generally traced to one cause alone； and yet half the time it should rather be attributed to some other source。 Anxiety； modesty； mere nervousness； or even vexation at this very misinterpretation； often raise the colour； and make the voice falter。 Elinor had fully made up her mind； and she felt that a frank explanation was due to Mr。 Ellsworth； but her regard for him was too sincere not to make the moment a painful one to her。 He was rejected； but rejected with so much consideration； so much modesty and feeling； so much good sense； that the very act only increased his regret。 He was much disappointed； for he had been a hopeful suitor。 Elinor had always liked him； and he had thought her manner encouraging； Mr。 Wyllys and Miss Agnes had not concealed their approbation； and Mrs。 Creighton had often told him she had no doubt of his success。 He was more than mortified； however； by the refusal； he was pained。 Elinor repeated assurances of respect and friendship； and regret that she felt herself unable to return his regard as it deserved。 She even alluded to his generosity in overlooking her want of personal attractions； she said she had； on that account； been slow to believe that he had any serious object in view。 At the time he had first proposed； through her grandfather； she herself had wished to prevent his going any farther； but her friends had desired her to defer the answer； he himself had begged her to do so； and named the time fixedshe had reluctantly consented to this arrangement； and； although the more she knew of Mr。 Ellsworth； the more highly she esteemed and respected him； yet the result had been what she first foresaw； she could not conscientiously offer him the full attachment he had a right to expect from a wife。
Mr。 Ellsworth rode on in silence for a moment。
〃Is it then true； Miss Wyllys； that I must give up all idea of obtaining a more indulgent hearing； at some future day？〃
〃Judge for yourself if I am capricious； Mr。 Ellsworth。 Do not imagine that I have lightly rejected the regard of a man whom I esteem so highly as yourself。 I could scarcely name another in my whole acquaintance； for whom I should have hesitated so long； but〃 Elinor paused； suddenly became very red； and then deadly pale。
〃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