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ore ways than one。 He had spent far more than his income； and his carelessness in business had proved a great disadvantage to the house with which he was connected。 During the last year； matters had grown worse and worse； he had neglected his wife； and lost large sums at the gambling…table。 Poor Jane had passed some unhappy months； and traces of sorrow were to be seen on her pale face。 Towards the last of the winter； young Taylor had been dangerously ill with a malignant fever prevailing in New Orleans； and as a long convalescence interfered with his dissipated habits； and confined him for some time to his own house； his friends hoped that he would have time and leisure to make some useful reflections。 But they were deceived； sickness and suffering only made him more selfish and irritable： poor Jane had already paid a heavy penance for her duplicity； and her obstinacy in marrying him。 Mr。 Taylor had quarrelled with his partners； and it was the object of his present visit to New York； to persuade his father to make some heavy advances in his behalf； as otherwise he would be ruined。 Jane； it is true； knew but little of her husband's affairs； still； she saw and heard enough to make her anxious for the future； and she gave herself up to melancholy repining； while her manner lost all cheerfulness。 Her father's family were in Charleston； and she had not seen them for more than a twelvemonth； but Mr。 Robert Hazlehurst； Miss Agnes； and Elinor had done all that was possible to supply their place； since she had been in their neighbourhood。 Adeline； too； was well enough disposed towards her sister…in…law； but she had neither the good sense nor the delicacy of Miss Wyllys and Elinor； and was far less successful in her friendly efforts。 The society of her aunt and cousin seemed a relief to Jane； and it was at their request that she was going to pass a fortnight with them at Saratoga； where Miss Agnes had been ordered by her physician。
Elinor； on joining her cousin in the cabin； tried to persuade Jane to have the sick child carried on deck； for the sake of the fresh air； but she did not succeed； and not wishing to leave Mrs。 Taylor； she took off her hat； and remained some time in the cabina piece of good…nature which Mr。 Ellsworth seemed to think ill…timed。 As they drew near the Highlands； however； she returned to her seat on deck； for the morning was lovely； and she did not wish to lose the scenery。 She found Mrs。 Hilson sitting near her aunt。
〃Ah； Miss Elinor！how do you do？〃 exclaimed the city lady。 〃It is the first time I have had a chance of seeing you since you returned from the West Indies。 You have not been much in New York； I believe； since you arrived？〃
〃Only for a day or two。〃
〃And how did you like the West Indies？ Is there much aristocracy at Havana？〃
〃We found it very pleasant there； and the climate was of so much service to my aunt； that I shall always remember Havana with gratitude。〃
〃You did not go into society； then？〃
〃0h； yes； we made many pleasant acquaintances。〃
〃Well； if I go abroad； I hope it will be to England； though I should like very well to visit the stores of Paris。〃
〃Have you seen your cousin； Charles Hubbard； since he arrived from Italy？〃 inquired Elinor。
〃Yes； he called at our boarding…house。 He is at Longbridge now； but he is coming to Saratoga； shortly； for he told me he had engaged to take several views of Lake George。〃
〃I am sorry be did not come to see us in town； but I am delighted to hear he is going to Saratoga。 Grandpapa； Mrs。 Hilson tells me Charles Hubbard will be at Saratoga； with us！〃
〃I am very glad to hear it； my child； I want to see Charlie。〃
〃Has he brought home many pictures？〃 continued Elinor。
〃I really don't know； I did not think of asking him。〃
〃I should suppose you would be anxious to see your cousin's paintings。〃
〃Oh； no； portraits are the only pictures that interest me。 I always have the 'Book of Beauty；' whenever it comes out； you know they are likenesses of the Peeresses of the English Nobility。〃
｛〃Book of Beauty〃 = 〃Heath's Book of Beauty〃 an annual volume with engravings of famous British women； sponsored by Charles Heath （1785…1848） （London： Longmans； 1833…1847）｝
Elinor bowed。 〃Yes； I have seen the book。〃
〃I have the 'Children of the Nobility；' too； bound in crimson silk； it is a very fascinating collection。 My friend； Mrs。 Bagman； tells me they are excellent likenesses； particularly the children of his Royal Highness； the Lord…Mayor。〃
｛〃Children of the Nobility〃 = 〃Portraits of the Children of the Nobility；〃 A similar publication； also sponsored by Charles Heath （Longmans： London； 1838）｝
Absurd as such a mistake in heraldry may seem； one might vouch for having heard others quite as extraordinary。
〃They may be like；〃 said Elinor； smiling in spite of herself； 〃but I cannot agree with you as to their beauty。 I have seen the volume； and it struck me the artists must have made caricatures of many of the children； who； no doubt； were pretty in reality。〃
〃I was looking at those engravings only yesterday；〃 said Mr。 Ellsworth； anxious to engage Elinor's attention； 〃they almost amount to a libel on childhood； they give the idea of mincing； affected little creatures； at the very age when children are almost invariably natural and interesting。 I should quarrel very much with a portrait of my little girl； in the same fashion。〃
〃But it is very seldom you see portraits of children； that are really child…like；〃 observed Elinor。 〃And then what a trial； to paint a pretty； innocent little creature； in full dress； starched and trim！〃
〃Children are charming subjects when properly treated； I delight in such pictures；〃 said Mary Van Alstyne。
〃You would have been often delighted then； in Italy； Miss Van Alstyne。 Raphael's cherubs are as perfect in their way； as his men and women。〃
｛〃Raphael's cherubs〃 = While living in Florence in 1829； James Fenimore Cooper and his family admired the 〃Madonna del Baldacchino〃 （sometimes called 〃La Madonna del Trono〃） by Raphael （Italian painter； 1483…1520）； at the Pitti Palace； and especially the two singing angels （〃perhaps I should call them cherubs） at the foot of the throne。 He commissioned the American sculptor Horatio Greenough （1805…1852） to sculpt for him a group called 〃The Chanting Cherubs；〃 based the angels or cherubs｝
Mrs。 Hilson； unwilling to be thrown out of the conversation； again addressed Elinor。
〃When you joined us； Miss Wyllys； we were speaking of the fire opposite your hotel。 Were you not dreadfully alarmed？ I hear you were there； although I did not find you at home when I called。〃
〃We were disturbed； of course； but I can't say that we were personally alarmed。 The wind； you may remember； carried everything in the opposite direction。〃
〃Did it？ Well； I was too much frightened to notice anything； you know it was in the same block as our boarding…house。〃
〃Yes； you were nearer the danger than we were。〃
〃Oh； I was dreadfully frightened。 There was one of our ladies wanted to persuade me to look at Trinity Church； lighted up by the fire； I believe she really thought it a fascinating sight。 Here comes a gentleman who was staying at your hotel； and has not got over hi