Volume Ii Part 9 (2/2)
”And, pray, what reason had you to suppose that we should not keep our word?” said the latter, as she appeared.
”We thought Harry would probably detain you,” said Elinor.
”Not at all; we brought him along with us.”
”That was a good arrangement we had not thought of,” observed Miss Agnes.
Harry entered the room. He was not entirely free from embarra.s.sment at first; but when Mr. Wyllys met him with something of the cordial manner of old times, he immediately recovered himself. He kissed the hand of Miss Agnes, as in former days, and saluted Elinor in the same way, instead of the more brotherly greetings with which he used to meet her of old.
”And here is Jane, too, Harry,” said Mrs. Hazlehurst, who had just embraced her sister. ”You have been so long away, that I dare say you have forgotten half your old friends.”
”Not at all,” said Harry, crossing the room to Jane. ”I think myself a very lucky fellow, at finding them all collected here together, for my especial benefit. I met Mr. Taylor for a moment in New York,” he continued, addressing Jane.
”Did he say when he was coming for me?” replied Mrs. Taylor, offering her hand to her kinsman.
”He told me that he should be at Saratoga very shortly.”
”I have a letter for you in my trunk, Jane,” said Mrs. Robert Hazlehurst.
”Don't you think our invalid much better, already, Louisa?” asked Elinor.
”Yes; she does credit to your nursing.”
”No wonder,” said Jane; ”for during the last month I have been petted all the time--first by Mrs. Taylor, then by Aunt Agnes and Elinor.”
”It's very pleasant to be petted,” said Harry; ”that's precisely what I came home for. I give you my notice, Louisa, I expect a great deal from you in the next three months.”
”Is that the length of your holiday?” inquired Miss Agnes.
”So says my master, Mr. Henley. I understand,” he added, turning to Elinor, ”that you have all the agreeable people in the country collected here.”
”There are some thousands of us, agreeable and disagreeable, altogether. They say the place has never been more crowded so early in the season.”
”So I'm told. I was warned that if I came, I should have to make my bed in the cellar, or on the roof. Are Ellsworth and Mrs.
Creighton at this house, or at the other?”
”They are staying at the United States. They are here this evening, however, at the dance.”
{”United States” = the other major hotel in Saratoga Springs, less fas.h.i.+onable at this time than Congress Hall}
”Indeed!--I have half a mind to take Ellsworth by surprise. Will they admit a gentleman in travelling costume, do you think?”
”I dare say they will; but here are your friends, coming to look for you.”
At the same moment, Mr. Ellsworth and Mrs. Creighton joined the party.
”How d'ye do, Ellsworth?--Glad to see you, my dear fellow!” cried the young men, shaking each other violently by the hand.
”How do you do, Mr. Hazlehurst?” added the lady, ”Welcome back again. But what have you done with your sister-in-law?--for I did not come to call upon you alone. Ah, here you are, Mrs.
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