Volume Ii Part 31 (1/2)
”But though you say it yourself, I don't believe you are a bit of a flirt, Mrs. Creighton,” said the unsuspicious Mr. Wyllys.
”Oh, no, sir; I would not have you believe me a regular flirt for the world. I only acknowledge to a little trifling, now and then.
Miss Wyllys knows what I mean; we women are more observant of each other. Now, haven't you suspected me of flirting more than once?”
”You had better ask me,” said Mary Van Alstyne; ”Elinor is not half suspicious enough.”
”The acquittal of the gentlemen ought to satisfy you,” said Elinor. ”They are supposed to be the best judges. Are you sure, however, that you did not flirt with Mr. Hopkins?--he was at Nahant with you, I believe.”
”I am afraid it surpa.s.ses the power of woman to distract Mr.
Hopkins's attention from a sheepshead or a paugee.”
{”sheepshead” and ”paugee” (porgy) = names applied to a number of American fish esteemed by anglers}
”You have really a very pretty view here, Miss Wyllys, although there is nothing bold or commanding in the country; it makes a very pleasant home picture,” observed Mr. Ellsworth, who had been looking about him. ”That reach in the river has a very good effect; the little hamlet, too, looks well in the distance; and the wood and meadow opposite, are as well placed as one could wish.”
”I am glad you like it; but we really think that, for such simple scenery, it is uncommonly pretty,” replied Elinor.
”Yes; even your fastidious friend, Mr. Stryker, p.r.o.nounced the landscape about Wyllys-Roof to be very well put together,” said Mrs. Creighton.
”Mr. Stryker, however, professes to have no eye for anything of the kind,” replied Elinor.
”That is only one of the man's affectations; his eyes are more like those of other people than he is willing to confess. Though Mr. Stryker pretends to be one of your men of the world, whose notions are all practical, yet one soon discovers that he cherishes his useless foibles, like other people,” said the lady, with an air of careless frankness; though intending the speech for the benefit of Hazlehurst and Mr. Wyllys, who both stood near her.
”Perhaps you don't know that Mr. Stryker has preceded you into our neighbourhood,” said Mary Van Alstyne. ”He is staying at Mr.
de Vaux's.”
”Oh, yes; I knew he was to be here about these times. Pray, tell me which is Mr. de Vaux's place. It is a fine house, I am told.”
”A great deal too fine,” said Harry. ”It is all finery, or rather it was a few years since.”
”It is much improved now,” observed Elinor; ”he talks of taking down half the columns. That is the house, Mrs. Creighton,” she added, showing the spot where the white pillars of Colonnade Manor were partly visible through an opening in the wood.
”What a colonnade it seems to be! It puts one in mind of the Italian epigram on some bad architecture,” said Mr. Ellsworth:
”'Care colonne che fate qua?
Non sappiamo, in verita!'”
{”Care colonne...” = Dear columns, what are you doing here? We really don't know! (Italian)}
”I understand, Miss Wyllys, that your friend, Mr. Stryker, calls it the 'cafe de mille colonnes,'” said Mrs. Creighton.
{”cafe de mile colonnes” = coffee-house of a thousand columns (French)}
”Does Mrs. Creighton's friend, Mr. Stryker, treat it so disrespectfully? Mr. de Vaux has given it a very good name, I think. It is Broadlawn now; last year it was Colonnade Manor.”
”And, pray, what did Mr. Taylor's manorial rights consist in?”
asked Mr. Ellsworth.
”In the privilege of putting up as many Grecian summer-houses as he pleased, I suppose,” said Harry; ”the place promised to be covered with them at one time.”
”Mr. de Vaux has taken them down; all but two at least,” said Elinor.