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第74章

elinor wyllys-2-第74章

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 We are certain that amid their own intimate personal communications; the young friend so dear to both; so recently lost; was more than once remembered; while at the same time it is a fact; that another communication of some importance to Harry; the disclosures of Stebbins; was forgotten by him; or deferred until the interview was interrupted。 Mr。 Wyllys entered to let Harry know that Hubert de Vaux had come for him。

〃De Vaux is here waiting for you; Harry;〃 said Mr。 Wyllys; opening the drawing…room door。

〃Is it possible; my dear sir?Is it so late?〃 exclaimed Harry。

It was in fact de Vaux; come to accompany Harry to Longbridge; to meet the body of our poor Charlie: so closely; on that eventful day; were joy and sadness mingled to the friends at Wyllys…Roof。

Elinor had risen from her seat as her grandfather approached。

〃You feel better; my child;〃 he said kindly。

〃I am happy; grandpapa!happy as I can be TO…DAY!〃 she added; blushing; and weeping; and throwing her arms about his neck。

〃It is all right; I see。 May you be blessed; together; my children!〃 said the venerable man; uniting their hands。

After an instant's silence; Elinor made a movement to leave the room。

〃I am going to Longbridge; but I shall hope to see you again in the evening;〃 said Harry; before she left him。

〃When you come back; then。 You are going to Longbridge; you say?〃

〃Yes;〃 Said Harry sadly; 〃to meet Van Horne and Smith; with〃

Elinor made no reply; she understood his sad errand; offered him her hand again; and left the room。 She retired to her own apartment; and remained there alone for a long time; and there the young girl fell on her knees; and offered up most fervent; heartfelt thanksgivings for the safety of one she loved truly; one she had long loved; so recently rescued from the grave。

That afternoon; just as the autumn sun was sinking towards the woods; throwing a rich; warm glow over the country; a simple procession was seen moving slowly and sadly over the Longbridge highway。 It was the body of Charlie Hubbard; brought home by his friends; to pass a few hours beneath his mother's roof; ere it was consigned to its last resting…place under the sod。 We have not yet dared to intrude upon the stricken inmates of the old grey cottage; we shall not attempt to paint their grief; such grief is sacred。 The bereaved mother; half…infirm in body and mind; seemed to feel the blow without fully understanding it: Patsey; poor Patsey felt the affliction fully; comprehended it wholly。 Charlie had been her idol from infancy; she had watched over the boy with an engrossing affection; an earnest devotion; which could be only compared to a mother's love; which might claim a mother's sacred name。 She was entirely overcome when the young artist's body was brought into the house; and placed in the coffin; beneath his father's portrait。

〃My boy!my brother!Charlie!〃 she cried wildly; all her usual calmness; her usual firmness giving way at the moment; as the young face she loved so tenderly was first disclosed to her view; pale and lifeless。 But the fine features of the young artist; almost feminine in their delicate beauty; returned no answering glancethey were rigid; cold; and partially discoloured by death。

Hazlehurst and de Vaux passed the night beside the body of their friend; Miss Agnes and Mrs。 Van Horne were with the bereaved mother and sisters。

Early on the following morning; Mr。 Wyllys and Elinor came to take a last look at their young friend。

'Can it indeed be true?Charlie gone for ever; gone so suddenly!' thought Elinor; as she leaned over his body; weeping with the sincere; heartfelt grief of a true friend; until Hazlehurst; pained by her emotion; gently drew her away; not; however; before she had bent over poor Charlie; and gently kissed the discoloured forehead of her young companion; for the first and the last time。

Patsey's grief; though not less deep; was more calm than at first。 Again and again she had returned to her young brother's coffin; with varying feelings; now overwhelmed by poignant grief; now partially soothed by the first balm of holy resignation; now alone; now accompanied by her friends。 Once; early that morning; the infirm mother was brought into the room to look for the last time on the face of her son; she was carried in a chair and placed by the coffin; then assisted to rise by Miss Agnes and her daughter Kate。 Her tears flowed long; falling on her boy's cold; but still beautiful features; she wiped them away herself; and with an humble phrase of resignation; in the words of Scripture; expressed the thought that ere long she should be laid by his side。 Her's was not the bitter; living grief of Patsey; she felt that she was near the grave herself。 Tears of gentle…hearted women were not the only tears which fell upon Charlie's bier; his uncles; his elder brothers; and more than one true friend were there。 But amid all the strong; contending emotions of those who crowded the humble room; who hung over the coffin; still that youthful form lay rigid in the fearful chill; the awful silence of death; he; whose bright eye; whose pleasant smile had never yet met the look of a friend without the quick glance of intellect; or the glow of kindly feeling。 Patsey felt the change; she felt that the being she loved was not all there; the dearer portion was already beyond her sightand with this reflection came the blessed consolations of Christian hope; for the unfeigned faith and the penitent obedience of the Christian; had been known to Charlie Hubbard from childhood; nor had they ever been forgotten by the young man。

Soon after sun…rise; friends and neighbours began to collect; they came from miles around; all classes and all agesfor the family was much respected; and their sudden bereavement had excited general compassion。 The little door…yard and the humble parlour were filled; with those who justly claimed the name of friends; the highway and an adjoining field were crowded with neighbours。

After a solemn prayer within the house; those who had loved the dead fixed their eyes for the last time on his features; the coffin was closed from the light; the body was carried for the last time over the threshold; it was placed on a carriage; and the living crowd moved away; following the dead; with the slow; heavy movement of sorrow。 The mother; the sisters; and the nearest female friends remained in privacy together at the house of mourning。 As the funeral train moved along the highway towards Longbridge; it gradually increased in length; the different dwellings before which it passed had their windows closed; as a simple token of sympathy; and on approaching the village; one bell after another was heard; tolling sadly。 The hearse paused for a moment before the house of Mr。 Joseph Hubbard; those who had come thus far in carriages alighted; and joined by others collected in the village; they moved from there on foot。 Several brother artists from New York; and other associates of the young man's; bore the cloth which covered his coffin; and immediately after the nearest relatives; the elder brothers; and the uncles; came Hazlehurst and de Vaux; with the whole party of the Petrel; and the crew of the little schooner: and sincerely did they mourn their young friend; it is seldom indeed that the simple feeling of grief and compassion pervades a whole funeral train so generally as that of the young artist。 But our poor Charlie had been much loved by all who knew him; he was carried to the grave among old friends of his family; in his native villageand there were many there capable of admiring his genius and respecting his character。 As the procession entered the enclosure it passed before a new…made grave; that of the negro sailor; who had been decently interred by the directions of de Vaux; on the preceding evening; the party of the Petrel having also attended his funeral。 On reaching the final resting…place of the young artist; among the tombs of his family; by the side of his father the minister; an impressive prayer and a short but touching address were made; the coffin was lowered; the earth thrown on it; and the grave closed over Charlie Hubbard: the story of his life was told。

{〃entered the enclosure〃 = 

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