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〃Take care；〃 said Miss Agnes； smiling； and shaking her head。
〃Well； I know at least there is no danger at present； but as we all have moments of weakness； I shall therefore very humbly beg that if you ever see me in the least danger； you will give me warning； dear Aunt； a very sharp warning； if you please。〃
〃In such a case I should certainly warn you； my dear。 It strikes me that several of your most disagreeable admirers〃
〃How call you call them ADMIRERS； Aunt Agnes？〃
〃Well； several of your pursuers； then； are beginning to discover that you are not a young lady easily persuaded into believing herself an angel； and capable of fancying them the most chivalrous and disinterested of men。〃
This was quite true； there was a quiet dignity； with an occasional touch of decision in Elinor's manner； that had already convinced several gentlemen that she had more firmness of character than suited their views； and they had accordingly withdrawn from the field。
〃Suppose； Elinor； that I begin by giving you a warning； this morning？〃 continued Miss Agnes； smiling。
〃You are not serious； surely； Aunt？〃 replied Elinor； turning from some music she was unpacking； to look at Miss Wyllys。
〃Yes； indeed； I am serious； so far as believing that you are at this moment exposed to the manoeuvres of a gentleman whom you do not seem in the least to suspect； and who is decidedly agreeable。〃
〃Whom can you mean？〃 said Elinor； running over in her head the names of several persons whom she had seen lately。 〃You surely do not suspectNo； I am sure you have too good an opinion of him。〃
〃I am very far from having a particularly good opinion of the person I refer to；〃 said Miss Agnes； 〃I think him at least； nothing better than a fortune…hunter； and although it is very possible to do many worse things than marrying for money； yet I hope you will never become the wife of a man whose principles are not above suspicion in every way。〃
〃I am disposed just at present； I can assure you； dear Aunt； to have a particularly poor opinion of a mere fortune…hunter。〃
〃Yes； you do not seem to feel very amiably towards the class； just now；〃 said Miss Agnes； smiling。
〃But who is the individual who stands so low in your opinion？〃
〃It is your opinion； and not mine； which is the important one；〃 replied Miss Agnes。
〃Ah； I see you are joking； Aunt； you half frightened me at first。 As far as having no fears for myself； I am really in an alarming state。〃
〃So it would seem。 But have you really no suspicions of one of our visiters of last evening？〃
Elinor looked uneasy。
〃Is it possible；〃 she said； lowering her voice a little； 〃that you believe Mr。 Ellsworth to be a common fortune…hunter？ I thought you had a very different opinion of him。〃
〃You are right； my child；〃 said Miss Agnes； apparently pleased by this allusion to their friend； 〃I have； indeed； a high opinion of Mr。 Ellsworth； but he was not our only visiter last evening；〃
〃Is it Mr。 Stryker？ I have half…suspected some such thing myself； lately； I cannot take credit for so much innocence as you gave me。 But it is not worth while to trouble oneself about Mr。 Stryker； he is certainly old enough； and worldly…wise enough to take care of himself。 If he actually has any such views； his time will be sadly thrown away。 But it is much more probable that he is really in love with Mrs。 Creighton； and it would be very ridiculous in me； to imagine that he is even pretending to care for me； when he is attached to some one else。〃
〃He may flirt with Mrs。 Creighton； but； if I am not mistaken； he intends to offer himself before long to Miss Wyllys； and I thought you had not remarked his advances。〃
〃I fancy； dear Aunt； that men like Mr。 Stryker seldom commit themselves unless they feel pretty sure of success。〃
The conversation was here interrupted； Elinor was engaged to ride with Mr。 Wyllys； who now returned from the reading…room for his grand…daughter。 Mrs。 Creighton was also going out with her brother； and proposed the two parties joining； an invitation which Mr。 Wyllys had very readily accepted。 The horses were ordered； Elinor was soon equipped； and on joining Mrs。 Creighton at the door； she was assisted to mount by Mr。 Ellsworth。 Mr。 Stryker had also been invited to ride with them by the pretty widow。
It was a lovely morning； and they moved off gaily on one of the roads leading to Saratoga Lake； Elinor enjoying the air and the exercise； Mr。 Ellsworth at her side； doing his best to make his society agreeable； Mrs。 Creighton engaged in making a conquest of the two gentlemen between whom she rode。 Yes； we are obliged to confess the fact； on her part at least； there was nothing wanting to make up a flirtation with Mr。 Wyllys。 The widow belonged to that class of ladies； whose thirst for admiration really seems insatiable； and who appear anxious to compel all who approach them to feel the effect of their charms。 Elinor would have been frightened； had she been aware of the attack made that morning by Mrs。 Creighton； on the peace of her excellent grandfather； now in his seventy…third year。 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 gui