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！
constant contrast with Mrs。 Creighton。 He scarcely regretted now； his little prospect of favour with the heiress； for the poorer widow had completely fascinated him by her graceful flatteries； the piquancy of her wit； and her worldliness； which； with Mr。 Stryker； passed for her wisdom。 Even Mary Van Alstyne； though prejudiced against her； was obliged to confess； as she watched Mrs。 Creighton； that she admired her。 The lady had thrown herself on the grass in a graceful position； excited by admiration； she had a brilliant colour； her dress was always studiously fashionable and becoming； in its minutest details； her amusing remarks flowed freely from a conscience under no other restraints than those of policy or good…breeding； and her manner； though always studied for effect； was particularly well studied and agreeable。 Her companions thought her charming。 Elinor； at the same moment； was standing by her side； in a simple dress； with no attempt to disguise a plain face under finery； and in a perfectly quiet position； which was graceful without her knowing it。 Her whole manner； indeed； was always natural； its simplicity was its great charm； for one felt confident that her grace and sweetness； her ease and quiet dignity； flowed readily from her character itself。 Whether these ideas occurred to any of the party besides Miss Van Alstyne； we cannot say； it is certain； however； that Mrs。 Creighton was all prepared for observation； Elinor； as usual； quite regardless of it。
〃We must carry off some flowers from May…day island；〃 said Mr。 Ellsworth； preparing to gather a bouquet for Elinor。 He had soon succeeded in collecting quite a pretty bunch； composed of wild roses； blue hare…bells； the white blossoms of the wild clematis； the delicate pink clusters of the Alleghany vine； and the broad…leaved rose…raspberry； with several other varieties。
｛〃Alleghany vine〃 = a flowering wild vine； which had been a favorite of Susan Fenimore Cooper's paternal grandmother Elizabeth Fenimore Cooper｝
Mr。 Stryker offered a bouquet to Mrs。 Creighton。
〃It is really quite pretty； but to make it complete； I must have one of those scarlet lobelias； on the next island； they are the first I have seen this season。 Mr。 Hazlehurst； do be good…natured； and step into that boat； and bring me one。〃
〃I can do that without the boat； Mrs。 Creighton； here is a bridge；〃 replied Harry； springing on the trunk of a dead tree； which nearly reached the islet she had pointed out； catching the branch of an oak on the opposite shore； he swung himself across。 The flowers were soon gathered； and； after a little difficulty in reaching the dead tree； he returned to the ladies； just as they were about to embark again。 Perhaps he had caught a spark of the spirit of coquetry from Mrs。 Creighton； and resented her flirting so much with Mr。 Stryker； for he did not give her all the flowers he had gathered； but offered a few to each lady as she entered the boat。
〃Thank you； Mr。 Hazlehurst； very gallantly done；〃 said Mrs。 Creighton； placing one of the lobelias； with a sprig of Mr。 Stryker's； in her belt。
As they rowed leisurely along； Charlie Hubbard pointed out some of the localities to Miss Wyllys and Robert Hazlehurst。
〃These mountains are very different in their character； Mr。 Hubbard； from those you have recently been sketching in Italy and Switzerland；〃 observed Mr。 Ellsworth。
〃Entirely different； their forms are much less bold and decided。〃
〃Yes； all the mountains in this country； east of the Mississippi； partake； more or less； of the same character； forming rounded ridges； seldom broken into those abrupt； ragged peaks； common in other parts of the world。〃
〃But the elevation of these mountains is much less than that of the Alps； or high Apennines；〃 observed Mr。 Wyllys； 〃do not the mountains in Europe； of the same height； resemble these in formation？〃
〃No； sir； I think not；〃 replied Ellsworth。 〃They are generally more bold and barren； often mere masses of naked rock。 I am no geologist； but it strikes me that the whole surface of the earth； in this part of the world； differs in character from that of the eastern continent； on one hand； the mountains are less abrupt and decided in their forms with us； and on the other； the plains are less monotonous here。 If our mountains are not grand； the general surface of the country seems more varied； more uneven； there is not so large a proportion of dead level in this country as in France； Germany； Russia； for instance； we have much of what we call a rolling countryeven the prairies； which are the plains of this region； show the same swelling surface。〃
〃The variety of character in the landscape of different countries； must be a great charm to one of your profession； Hubbard；〃 observed Harry。 〃A landscape painter must enjoy travelling more than any other man； nothing is lost upon youevery time you look about you there is something new to observe。 How you must have enjoyed the change from the general aspect of this countryfresh； full of life and motion； yet half…finished in the detailsto old Italy； where the scenery and atmosphere are in perfect harmony with the luxurious repose of a great antiquity！〃
〃I did indeed enjoy the change beyond expression！〃 exclaimed Charlie。 〃I have often felt thankful； in the best sense of the word； that I have been enabled to see those great countries； Italy and Switzerland； it has furnished me with materials for thought and delight； during a whole lifetime。〃
〃It would be a good plan to get you appointed painting attache to the Legation； Hubbard；〃 said Harry。 〃As you have seen the south of Europe； would you not like to take a look at the northern regions？〃
〃Not much；〃 replied Charlie。 〃I should have nothing but ice to paint there； for half the year。〃
〃Well； I suppose there is something selfish in my wish to carry you to the North Pole； but when I was in Brazil； I had a very disinterested desire that you should see the Bay of Rio。〃
〃Is it really so beautiful？〃 asked Elinor。
〃Yes； finer even than Naples； as regards scenery； though it wants； of course； all the charm of recollection which belongs to the old world。〃
〃You must forget everything like fine scenery when you go to St。 Petersburg；〃 said Robert Hazlehurst。
〃Not at all； I hope to take a trip to the Crimea while I am in Russia。 I shall do my best to ingratiate myself with the owner of some fine villa on the Black Sea。〃
〃And have you really made up your mind to be a regular diplomatist？〃 asked Mr。 Wyllys。
〃For a time； sir； so long as I can serve under Mr。 Henley； or a man like him。〃
〃I used to see a good deal of Henley； some twenty years since；〃 observed Mr。 Wyllys。 〃I should think him particularly well fitted for his duties。〃
〃I have the highest respect for him；〃 replied Harry。
〃He is a good model for an American diplomatist；〃 added Robert Hazlehurst。 〃A man of ability； good education； and just principles； with simple； gentlemanly manners； always manly in his tone； and firm as a rock on all essential points。〃
〃But those are only a small portion of the qualifications of a diplomatist；〃 said Mr。 Stryker。 〃According to the most approved models； the largest half should be cunning。〃
〃Mr。 Henley is particularly clear…sightednot easily deceived either by himself or by others； and that is all that American diplomacy requires；〃 said Harry。 〃I am proud to say that our government does not give us any dirty work to do； we have chiefly to act on the defensive。〃
〃Set a thief to catch a thief；〃 said Mr。 Stryker； with his usual dry manner。 〃I don't believe in the full success of your virtuous diplomatist。 How is a man to know all the turnings and windings of the road that leads to treaties； unless he has gone over it himself？〃
〃But an honest man； if he is really clear…headed and firm； has no need of these turnings and windings； he goes more directly to the point； and saves a vast deal of time and principle； by taking a more honourable road。〃
〃Suppose a man has to make black look white； I should like to see your honourable diplomatist manage such a job；〃 said Mr。 Stryker。
〃But our government has never yet had such jobs to manage。 We have never yet made a demand from a foreign power that we have not beli