Volume Ii Part 11 (2/2)
”I suppose you consider it part of your profession to look as picturesque as our stiff-cut broadcloth will permit,” said Mr.
Wyllys.
”If you really suspect me of dandyism, sir,” said Charlie, ”I shall have to reform at once.”
”I am afraid, Mr. Hubbard, that you have forgotten me,” observed Mr. Ellsworth; ”though I pa.s.sed a very pleasant morning at your rooms in New York, some years since.”
Charlie remembered him, however; and also made his bow to Mrs.
Creighton and Mr. Stryker.
”And how did you leave the Mediterranean, sir?” asked Mr.
Stryker, in a dry tone. ”Was the sea in good looks?”
”As blue as ever. I am only afraid my friends in this country will not believe the colour I have given it in my sketches.”
”We are bound to believe all your representations of water,”
remarked Mr. Wyllys.
”I hope you have brought back a great deal for us to see; have you anything with you here?” asked Elinor.
”Only my sketch-book. I would not bring anything else; for I must get rid of my recollections of Italy. I must accustom my eye again to American nature; I have a great deal to do with Lake George, this summer.”
”But you must have something in New York,” said Miss Wyllys.
”Yes; I have brought home with me samples of water, from some of the most celebrated lakes and rivers in Europe.”
”That is delightful,” said Elinor; ”and when can we see them?”
”As soon as they are unpacked, I shall be very happy to show them to my friends. They will probably interest you on account of the localities; and I have endeavoured to be as faithful to nature as I could, in every instance. You will find several views familiar to you, among the number,” added Charlie, addressing Hazlehurst.
”I have no doubt that you have done them justice.”
”They are far from being as good as I could wish; but I did my best. You will find some improvement, sir, I hope,” added Charlie, turning to Mr. Wyllys, ”since my first attempt at Chewattan Lake, in the days of Compound Interest.”
”You have not forgotten your old enemy, the Arithmetic,” said Mr.
Wyllys, smiling. ”I am afraid Fortune will never smile upon you for having deserted from the ranks of trade.”
”I am not sure of that, sir; she is capricious, you know.”
”I should think you would do well, Charlie, to try your luck just now, by an exhibition of your pictures.”
”My uncle has already proposed an exhibition; but I doubt its success; our people don't often run after good pictures,” he added, smiling. ”If I had brought with me some trash from Paris or Leghorn, I might have made a mint of money.”
A general conversation continued until the party returned towards the hotels. They were met, as they approached Congress Hall, by several persons, two of whom proved to be Mrs. Hilson, and Miss Emmeline Hubbard. Charlie had already seen his cousins in New York, and he merely bowed in pa.s.sing. Miss Emmeline was leaning on the arm of M. Bonnet, Mrs. Hilson on that of another Frenchman, whose name, as the ”Baron Adolphe de Montbrun,” had been constantly on her lips during the last few weeks, or in other words, ever since she had made his acquaintance. Charlie kept his eye fixed on this individual, with a singular expression of surprise and vexation, until he had pa.s.sed. He thought he could not be mistaken, that his cousin's companion was no other than a man of very bad character, who had been in Rome at the same time with himself, and having married the widow of an Italian artist, a sister of one of Hubbard's friends, had obtained possession of her little property, and then deserted her. The whole affair had taken place while Charlie was in Rome; and it will readily be imagined that he felt no little indignation, when he met a person whom he strongly suspected of being this very chevalier d'industrie, flouris.h.i.+ng at Saratoga, by the side of his uncle Joseph's daughter.
{”chevalier d'industrie” = con man; swindler; man who lives by his wits (French)}
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