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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 the one which has the honour of carrying me at present；〃 said Mr。 Stryker。
〃But Mrs。 Creighton has been so very agreeable； that I should think you would have been happy to accompany her on the worst horse in Saratoga；〃 observed Mr。 Wyllys。
〃Only too agreeable；〃 replied Mr。 Stryker； as he helped the lady to dismount； while Mr。 Ellsworth performed the same service to Elinor。
CHAPTER V。 ｛XXVIII｝
〃I do beseech your grace； for charity； If ever any malice in your heart Were hid against me； now to forgive me frankly。〃 Henry VIII。
｛William Shakespeare； 〃Henry VIII〃； II。i。79…81｝
ONE evening； about a week after the arrival of the Wyllyses； there was a dance at Congress Hall； where they were staying。 Mrs。 Creighton； with her brother； who were already engaged to meet some friends there； urged Elinor very much to join them； but she declined； not wishing to leave Jane。 Mr。 Ellsworth； who had been very devoted； of late； seemed particularly anxious she should go。 But although Elinor's manner betrayed some little embarrassment； if not indecision； as the gentleman urged her doing so； still she persisted in remaining with her cousin。
｛〃Congress Hall〃 = the most fashionable hotel in Saratoga Springs built in 1811； the original building burned in 1866｝
〃Well； I am sorry we cannot persuade you； Miss Wyllys； though I dare say you will have a very pleasant evening in your own parlour。〃
〃We must put； off our game of chess until to…morrow； Mrs。 Creighton；〃 said Mr。 Wyllys。
〃Yes； unfortunately for me； for I have fully determined to beat you； sir； at our next trial。 Well； Frank； we cannot stay here all the evening； I dare say； our friends； the Stevensons； are looking for us in the ball…room already。〃
〃Mrs。 Creighton is a very pretty woman；〃 observed Mr。 Wyllys； as he seated himself at the chess…board； opposite his daughter； after the brother and sister had left the room。
〃Yes； a very pretty woman； and she always looks well in her evening…dress；〃 replied Miss Agnes。
Elinor devoted herself to Jane's amusement。 Ever since they had been together； she had given up a great part of her time to Mrs。 Taylor； whom she was very anxious to cheer and enliven； that she might persuade her to throw off the melancholy and low spirits； which her cousin seemed purposely to encourage。 The sick baby was better； and Elinor was in hopes that before they parted； she should succeed in awakening Jane to a somewhat better frame of mind。 She was very desirous that the time they were together should not be lost； and her kindness was so unwearied； her manner was so affectionate and soothing； and the advice she sometimes allowed herself to give； was so clear and sensible； that at last Jane seemed to feel the good effects of her cousin's efforts。
After Mr。 Ellsworth and his sister had left the room to join the dancers； Jane suddenly turned to Elinor； with tears in her eyes。 〃How kind you are！〃 she said。 〃I daresay you would like to go down…stairs；but you are too good to me； Elinor！〃
〃Nonsense； Jenny； I can't help it if I would。 Do you think I should enjoy dancing； if I knew you were sitting alone in this dark corner； while grandpapa and Aunt Agnes are playing chess！ You are looking a great deal more woe…begone than you ought to； now baby is so much better。〃
〃You spoil me；〃 said Jane； shaking her head； and smiling with more feeling than usual in her unexpressive face。
〃I shall spoil you a great deal more before we get through。 Next week； when Mr。 Taylor comes； I intend to talk him into bringing you over to Wyllys…Roof； to pay a good long visit； like old times。〃
〃I had much rather think of old times； than of what is to come。 There is nothing pleasant for me to look forward to！〃
〃How can you know that； Jane？ I have learned one lesson by experience； though I am only a year older than you； dearand it is； that if we are often deceived by hope； so we are quite as often misled by fear。〃
〃I believe； Elinor； you are my best friend；〃 said Jane； holding out her hand to her cousin。
〃Oh； you have more good friends than you think for； and much good of every kind； though you will shut your eyes to the fact。〃
〃It may be so；〃 said Jane； 〃I will try to follow your advice； if I can。〃
〃Try hard； then；〃 said Elinor； 〃and all will go well。 And now； shall I sing you the song Mrs。 Creighton cut short？〃
She began to sing 〃Auld Lang Syne；〃 but the song was interrupted before she had finished the second verse。 Several persons were heard approaching their room； which was in a retired； quiet part of the house； the door soon opened； and in walked Robert Hazlehurst。
〃Well； good people；〃 he exclaimed； 〃you take the world as quietly as anybody I know！ We supposed； of course； you were at the ball； but Elinor's voice betrayed you。 This way； Louisa；〃 he said； returning to the door； after having shaken hands with Mr。 Wyllys and Miss Agnes。
〃How glad I am to see you！〃 exclaimed Elinor〃you are as good as your word； but we did not expect you for several days；〃 and Jane and herself went to the door to meet Mrs。 Hazlehurst。
〃And； pray； what