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raise the colour； and make the voice falter。 Elinor had fully made up her mind； and she felt that a frank explanation was due to Mr。 Ellsworth； but her regard for him was too sincere not to make the moment a painful one to her。 He was rejected； but rejected with so much consideration； so much modesty and feeling； so much good sense； that the very act only increased his regret。 He was much disappointed； for he had been a hopeful suitor。 Elinor had always liked him； and he had thought her manner encouraging； Mr。 Wyllys and Miss Agnes had not concealed their approbation； and Mrs。 Creighton had often told him she had no doubt of his success。 He was more than mortified； however； by the refusal； he was pained。 Elinor repeated assurances of respect and friendship； and regret that she felt herself unable to return his regard as it deserved。 She even alluded to his generosity in overlooking her want of personal attractions； she said she had； on that account； been slow to believe that he had any serious object in view。 At the time he had first proposed； through her grandfather； she herself had wished to prevent his going any farther； but her friends had desired her to defer the answer； he himself had begged her to do so； and named the time fixedshe had reluctantly consented to this arrangement； and； although the more she knew of Mr。 Ellsworth； the more highly she esteemed and respected him； yet the result had been what she first foresaw； she could not conscientiously offer him the full attachment he had a right to expect from a wife。
Mr。 Ellsworth rode on in silence for a moment。
〃Is it then true； Miss Wyllys； that I must give up all idea of obtaining a more indulgent hearing； at some future day？〃
〃Judge for yourself if I am capricious； Mr。 Ellsworth。 Do not imagine that I have lightly rejected the regard of a man whom I esteem so highly as yourself。 I could scarcely name another in my whole acquaintance； for whom I should have hesitated so long； but〃 Elinor paused； suddenly became very red； and then deadly pale。
〃Butwhat would you say； Miss Wyllys？go on； I entreat！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Ellsworth。
It was a moment before Elinor rallied。 She then continued； in a low voice； and in an agitated； hesitating manner：
〃Mr。 Ellsworth； I shall speak with perfect frankness； your kindness and forbearance deserve it。 When I consented to wait so long before giving you a final answer； it was chiefly that I might discover if I could regain entire command over feelings which have not always been my own。 I am afraid you are not aware of this。 The feeling itself to which I allude is changed； but be it weakness or not； it has left traces for life。 I was willing to make an experiment in favour of one who deserved the full confidence of my friends and myself； but the trial has not succeeded； if I know myself； it can never succeedI shall never marry。〃
And then after a moment's silence she gently continued； in a calmer tone：
〃But you will soon forget all this； I trust。 You will find elsewhere some one more worthy of you； one who can better repay your kindness。〃
Mr。 Ellsworth chafed a little under this suggestion； though not so much as a more passionate man might have done。
〃To forget one of so much womanly excellence as yourself； Miss Wyllys； is not the easy task you seem to suppose。〃
Elinor could have sighed and smiled as the thought recurred to her； that Harry had not found it very difficult to forget her。 They had now reached the gate； on their way home； and turning towards her companion as they entered； she said：
〃I hope； indeed； you will always remember that you have very sincere friends at Wyllys…Roof； Mr。 Ellsworth； believe me； friends capable of appreciating your merits； and aware of what is their due。〃
Mr。 Ellsworth thanked her； but he looked very evidently disturbed。 When they reached the piazza he helped Elinor from her horse； perhaps more carefully than usual； Miss Emma Taylor and her cavalier had already arrived； and the young lady immediately attacked Mr。 Ellsworth； bidding him remember his bet。 When Mrs。 Creighton stepped from the chair； she looked for her brother and Elinor； a little curious to discover if anything decisive had passed； but both had already entered the house。
Mr。 Wyllys learned in the course of the day； from Ellsworth himself； that he had been rejected； he was very much disappointed； and more disposed to find fault with Elinor than he had ever been before。
〃I am afraid you have not acted wisely； Elinor；〃 said her grandfather； words more like a reproof than any that Elinor could remember to have heard fall from his lips； addressed to herself。
Miss Agnes also evidently regretted her niece's decision； but she said nothing on the subject。 As for Mrs。 Creighton； she thought it all easy to be understood。
〃You may say what you please； Frank； about Miss Wyllys； but you will never persuade me she is not a coquette。〃
But this Mr。 Ellsworth would by no means allow。
Elinor laid her head on her pillow that night with the unpleasant reflection； that four persons under the same roof were reproaching her for the step she had taken that day。 But she herself knew that she had acted conscientiously。
CHAPTER XXI。 ｛XLIV｝
〃Such news； my lord； as grieves me to unfold。〃 Henry IV。 ｛sic｝
｛William Shakespeare； 〃Richard III〃； II。iv。39｝
THE Petrel was a very pretty little schooner； pronounced a crack craft by the knowing ones。 She sat so buoyantly on the water when motionless； and glided along so gracefully when under way； that even landsmen and landswomen must have admired her。 Let it not be supposed that the word landswomen is here used unadvisedly： although the Navy Department is decidedly ungallant in its general character； and seldom allows ladies to appear on board ship； excepting at a collation or a ball； yet it is well known that in some of the smaller sea…port towns； the female portion of the population are so much interested in nautical matters； and give so much time and attention to the subject； that they are looked upon as very good judges of spars and rigging； and it is even affirmed； that some of these charming young 〃salts〃 are quite capable of examining a midshipman on points of seamanship。 If fame has not belied them； such are the accomplishments of the belles of Norfolk and Pensacola； while the wives and daughters of the whalers at Nantucket； are said to have also a critical eye for the cut of a jib and the shape of a hull。 Hubert de Vaux hoped they had； for he thought it a pity that the Petrel's beauties should be thrown away。
On the morning they sailed； when Elinor had watched the boat as she lay in the river； they had been waiting for Bruno。 Harry wished to carry the dog with him； but after following Hazlehurst to the boat； he had returned home again； he was； however； enticed on board； and they hoisted sail； and slowly moved out of sight。
In spite of some little delay； the Petrel made a very good day's work。 That night and the following the party slept on board； and seemed very well satisfied with their quarters； they intended to run out of sight of land before the end of their cruise； but as yet they had landed every few hours for fresh water； vegetables； milk； &c。；