he family had gone to rest； and may possibly have disturbed some of his friends； but many busy thoughts of the past and the future crowded on his mind； while pacing that familiar spot； the piazza of Wyllys…Roof。 It is time that these thoughts should be partially revealed to the reader； and for that purpose we must pause a moment； in order to look backward。
Long since； Harry's heart had warmed again towards his old playfellow； Elinor。 As soon as the first novelty of a life at Rio had worn off； Harry； whose affections were strong； began to miss his old friends； the more so； since Mr。 Henley； although his principles and talents entirely commanded his secretary's esteem； was not a pleasant companion in every…day life。 Hazlehurst soon began to contrast the minister's formal； old bachelor establishment with the pleasant house of his friend Ellsworth； where Mrs。 Creighton did the honours charmingly； and with the cheerful home of his brother； where his sister…in…law always received him kindly： still oftener be compared the cold； stately atmosphere which seemed to fill Mr。 Henley's house； with the pleasant； genial spirit which prevailed at Wyllys…Roof； where everything excellent wore so amiable an aspect。 Until lately he had always been so closely connected with the family there； that he accused himself of not having done full justice to all their worth。 He took a pleasure in dwelling on Mr。 Wyllys's high moral character； so happily tempered by the benevolence of cheerful old age； he remembered the quiet； unpretending virtues of Miss Wyllys； always mingled with unvarying kindness to himself； and could he forget Elinor； whose whole character was so engaging； uniting strength of principle and intelligence； with a disposition so lovely； so endearing？ A place in this family had been his； his for life； and he had trifled with it； rejected it； worse than thatwell he knew that the best place in Elinor's generous heart had once been wholly his； he had applied for it； he had won it； and what return had he made for her warmest affections？ He had trifled with her； the world said he had jilted her； jilted the true…hearted Elinor； his friend and companion from childhood！ Knowing her as well as he did； he had treated her as if she were a mere ball…room coquette； he had forgotten her as soon as if it had been a mere holiday fancy of a boy of fifteen。 He had been completely infatuated； dazzled； blinded by a beautiful face。 That it was sheer infatuation was now evident； for； absent from both Elinor and Jane； all feeling for the latter seemed to have vanished like a dream。 It is said that love without hope cannot live： the question must be settled by those who have suffered most frequently from the wounds of Cupid； but it seems evident； at least from Harry's experience； that love which has fed plentifully upon hopes for some months； when suddenly put upon a change of diet； and receiving a large dose of mortification to boot； falls immediately into a rapid decline。 The recollection of his fancy for Jane was now unpleasant under every aspect； but where it was connected with Elinor he soon began to consider it as particularly painful。 He regretted that he had engaged Elinor in the hasty； boyish manner he had done； before going abroad； had he not taken this step； the momentary mortification of a refusal by Jane would have been the only evil； Elinor would not have suffered； and all might have gone well。 Gradually the idea gained upon him； that it was not impossible to repair the past。 His conduct had been unpardonable； no doubt； yet； perhaps it might be forgiven。 But even if Elinor could forget his inexcusable fickleness； would her friends ever consent to risk her future peace with one who had so recklessly trifled with her already？ Mr。 Wyllys had been deeply indignant at his conduct； his whole manner had changed； there had been a cold civility in it when they had met； which Harry had felt keenlyit amounted almost to contempt。 Miss Wyllys； too； was no longer the kind； indulgent Aunt Agnes of his boyhood； there was a very decided coldness and reserve in her whole expression； which it seemed all but impossible to overcome。 He wished； however； that he had it in his power to make advances towards a reconciliation； he was prepared for merited coldness at first； but he would willingly submit to it as a just penance； if he could but hope eventually to regain his position with Elinor。 Such a wife as Elinor would be； was worth a serious struggle to obtain。 Then； at other moments； this idea appeared preposterous to him； how could the Wyllyses ever forgive him after so keen an insult； so cruel a blow？ No； it was a dream； he would not indulge in it any longer； he would not think of marrying； he would turn out an old bachelor diplomatist； like Mr。 Henley。 It is not to be supposed that Mrs。 Creighton was entirely forgotten in these reveries of Harry's； which formed occasional interludes to his diplomatic labours while at Rio。 On the contrary she was remembered quite frequently； and every one who knew her must always think of the pretty widow as a charming woman； clever； graceful； gay； and well…bred。 Nor had Hazlehurst been blind to her peculiarly flattering manner towards himself。 The lady was his friend Ellsworth's sister； which was another claim； she was generally admired too； and this alone； with some men； would have given her a decided advantage： since we are revealing Harry's foibles； however； we must do him the justice to say； that he was not one of the class referred to。 When he liked； he liked honestly； for good reasons of his own。 At the time he left home with Mr。 Henley； he had not been able to decide entirely to his own satisfaction； whether Mrs。 Creighton really had any partiality for him or not； he waited with a little interest and a little curiosity； to know what she would do after he left Philadelphia。 News soon reached him that the lady was gay and charming as ever； much admired； and taking much pleasure in admiration； as usual。 He had known Mrs。 Creighton from a girl； she was a year or two older than himself； and had been a married woman while he was still a boy； and he had been long aware of her reputation as a coquette； this had no doubt put him on his guard。 As had occasionally remarked her conduct himself； and having been so intimate with women of very different characterhis brother's wife； Miss Wyllys； and Elinorhe knew very well that all women were not coquettes； he had received a higher standard of female delicacy and female truth than many young men。 So long； therefore； as he believed Mrs。 Creighton a decided flirt； he was in little danger from her： the lady； however； was no common coquettecleverness； tact； good taste； gave her very great advantages； she was generally admired； and Hazlehurst expected daily to hear that she was married。
He had become very tired of Rio Janeiro； and very desirous of returning home； long before Mr。 Henley was recalled to exchange the court of Brazil for that of St。 Petersburgh。 Sincere respect for Mr。 Henley had alone kept him at Rio； and when he arrived at Norfolk； he was still undecided whether he should continue in the legation or not。 He found that all his friends were at Saratoga； and he hastened there； he was anxious to see the Wyllyses； anxious to see Elinor； and yet he dreaded the first meetinghe had already determined to be guided entirely in his future steps by their manner towards himself； if they did not absolutely shun him； he would make an effort for a complete reconciliation。 He knew Elinor was unmarried； he had never heard of any engagement； and he might then hope to regain all he had lost。 He arrived； he was received kindly； and the sight of Elinor's plain face did not change his determination； on the contrary； he found her just what he remembered her； just what he had always known her to beeverything that was naturally feminine and amiable。 But if Elinor were still herself； Harry soon found that her position had very materially altered of late； she was now an heiress； it seemed。 What a contemptible interpretation might be placed on his advances under such circumstances！ Then came the discovery of Mr。 Ellsworth's views and hopes； and his friend was evidently sanguine of success。 Thus everything was changed； he was compelled to remain in the back…ground； to avoid carefully any interference with his friend。
There appeared no reason to doubt that Elinor would； ere long； marry Ellsworth； she herself certainly liked him； and her friends very evidently favoured his suit。 On the other hand； Mrs。 Creighton seemed particularly well pleased with his own return； she was certainly very charming； and it was by no means an unpleasant task to play cavalier to his friend's sister。 Still he looked on with great interest； as Ellsworth pursued his courtship； and he often found himself making observations upon Elinor's movements。 〃Now she will do this〃〃I am sure she thinks that〃〃I know her better than Ellsworth〃〃She can't endure Stryker〃and other remarks of the kind； which kept his attention fixed upon his old playfellow； the more closely he observed her the more he saw to love and admire； for their former long intimacy had given him a key to her character； and greater knowledge of the world enabled him fully to appreciate her purity of principle； her native grace and modesty； the generous tone of her mind； the unaffected sweetness of her disposition。 It appeared strange and unpleasant to him； that he must now draw back and see her engrossed by Ellsworth； when she had so long been his own favourite companion； still he had no right to complain； it was his own fault that matters were so much changed。 As for Mrs。 Creighton； Harry could not satisfy himself with regard to her real feelings； there were times when he thought she was attached to him； but just as it began to appear clear that she was not merely coquetting； just as he began to inquire if he could ever offer himself to a woman whom he admired very much； but whom he did not entirely respect； the pretty widow would run off； apparently in spite of herself； into some very evident flirtation with Stryker； with de Vaux； with Mr。 Wyllys； in fact with any man who came in her way。 Generally he felt relieved by these caprices； since they left perfect liberty of action to himself； o