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eighton 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 do so; however; as one who was waiting for a passage to New York soon offered; and the matter was settled。
Early on Monday morning they again made sail; for Martha's Vineyard; from thence the Petrel's head was to be turned southward; and after coasting the eastern shore of Long…Island; they expected to return to the wharf at Broadlawn; as fast as the winds would carry them。 The Vineyard; owing to a more sheltered position; bears a different aspect from the barren sands of Nantucket; parts of the island are well wooded。 Choosing a pleasant bay known to their pilot; where a rude wharf had been built; the party landed and prepared to dine; and pass some hours there。 They were no sooner on shore than Mr。 Stryker made his arrangements for fishing; having secured bait; Dr。 Van Horne and himself; with one of the men; took the Petrel's boat and rowed off from shore; changing their ground occasionally; until they had turned the point which formed the bay on one side; and were no longer in sight。 De Vaux and Smith took their guns and went into the wood; Charlie brought out his sketchbook; and was soon engaged in taking some tints; in watercolours; from a heavy bank of clouds which had been slowly rising in the west for several hours。 Hazlehurst was lying on the grass near him; with a spy…glass; watching a couple of sloops in the distance: turning his head accidentally towards the spot where they were commencing preparations for dinner; Harry saw one of the men; the new recruit; whom he had not yet remarked; looking at him closely。 It struck Hazlehurst that he had met this man before; the sailor saw that he was observed; and after a moment's hesitation he approached; touching his hat with the common salutation of a seaman; and looking as if he wished to speak; but scarcely knew how to begin。
〃Have you anything to say to me; my friend?It strikes me I have seen your face somewhere lately。〃
〃If you are Mr。 Hazlehurst; I guess; sir; you seed me not long since;〃 replied the man; a little embarrassed。
It suddenly flashed upon Harry's mind; that it was during the Stanley trial that he had seen this person; yes; he could not be mistaken; he was one of the witnesses for the plaintiff on that occasion。 Hazlehurst gave him a keen look; the fellow faltered a little; but begged Harry to step aside for a moment; as he wished to speak alone with him。 They moved to the adjoining bank; within the edge of the wood; and a conversation followed of some consequence to Hazlehurst; certainly。 After a few prefatory remarks; this man offered to make important revelations; upon condition that he should be screened from justicebeing considered as state's evidenceand rewarded by Harry for volunteering his services; to which Hazlehurst readily agreed。
We shall tell his story for him; rather as it appeared at a later day; than in the precise words in which it was first given at Martha's Vineyard。 By his disclosures; the villany {sic} of Clapp and his client were placed beyond a doubt; and he himself was good authority; for he was Robert Stebb