elinor wyllys-2-第75章
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he grave closed over Charlie Hubbard： the story of his life was told。
｛〃entered the enclosure〃 = at Christ Episcopal Church； in Cooperstown； which Susan Fenimore Cooper attended； African…Americans were at this time buried just inside the churchyard entrance； away from the other graves； 〃was told〃 = was ended｝
Harry was the last to leave the spot。 While the funeral train returned with the mourners to the house of Mr。 Joseph Hubbard； he remained standing by the grave of his friend； his mind filled with the recollection of the brilliant hopes so suddenly extinguished； the warm fancies so suddenly chilled； the bright dreams so suddenly blighted by the cold hand of death。 The solemn truth； that the shadow of death had also passed over himself was not forgotten； life in its true character； with all its real value； all its uncertainties； all its responsibilities； rose more clearly revealed to him than it had ever yet done； he turned from Charlie's grave a wiser man； carrying with him； in the recollection of his own unexpected restoration； an impulse for higher and more steadfast exertion in the discharge of duty。
But if Hazlehurst's thoughts； as he retraced his solitary way towards Wyllys…Roof； were partly sad； they were not all gloomy。 Wisdom does not lessen our enjoyment of one real blessing of life； she merely teaches us to distinguish the false from the true； and she even increases our happiness amid the evils and sorrows against which we are warned； by purifying our pleasures； and giving life and strength to every better thought and feeling。 When Harry entered the gate of Wyllys…Roof； his heart beat with joy again； as he saw Elinor； now his betrothed wife； awaiting his return on the piazza； he joined her； and they had a long conversation together in the fullness of confidence and affection。 They were at length interrupted by Miss Agnes； who returned from the Hubbards'。 The young people inquired particularly after Miss Patsey。
〃She is much more calm than she was yesterday； more like herself； more resigned； thinking again of others； attending to Mrs。 Hubbard； she seems already to have found some consoling thoughts。〃
〃It seems； indeed；〃 said Harry； 〃as if Hubbard's memory would furnish consolation to his friends by the very greatness of their loss； his character； his conduct； were always so excellent； the best consolation for Miss Patsey。〃
〃It is touching to see that excellent woman's deep affection for one； so different from herself in many respects；〃 observed Mr。 Wyllys。
〃Fraternal affection is a very strong tie；〃 said Miss Agnes gently。
She might have added that it is one of the most honourable to the human heart； as it is peculiar to our race。 Other natural affections； even the best； may be partially traced among the inferior beings of creation； something of the conjugal； paternal； and filial attachment may be roused for a moment in most living creatures； but fraternal affection is known to man alone； and would seem in its perfect disinterestedness； almost worthy to pass unchanged to a higher sphere。
〃I have often thought；〃 said Mr。 Wyllys； 〃that the affection of an unmarried sister for a brother or a sister； whose chief interests and affections belong by right to another； if not the most tender； is surely the most purely disinterested and generous which the human heart can know： and single women probably feel the tie more strongly than others。〃
Mr。 Wyllys was thinking when he spoke； of his daughter Agnes and Patsey Hubbard； and he might have thought of hundreds of others in the same circumstances； for happily such instances are very common。
〃I have never had either brother or sister； but I can well imagine it must be a strong tie；〃 said Elinor。
〃I flattered myself I had been a sort of brother to you in old times；〃 said Harry smiling。
〃Your romantic； adopted brothers； Nelly； are not good for much；〃 said her grandfather。 〃We tried the experiment with Harry； and see how it has turned out； it generally proves so； either too much or too little。 Don't fancy you know anything about plain； honest； brotherly affection；〃 he added； smiling kindly on his granddaughter； who sat by his side。
Probably Harry was quite as well satisfied with the actual state of things。
〃But Charlie was also a son to Miss Patsey；〃 he added； after a moment。
〃Yes； he had been almost entirely under her care from an infant；〃 replied Miss Agnes。
〃Poor Charlie！little did I think that bright young head would be laid in the grave before mine！〃 said Mr。 Wyllys。
A moment's pause ensued。
〃Much as I loved Hubbard； much as I regret his loss；〃 said Harry； 〃I shall always think of him with a melancholy pleasure。〃
〃Excepting his loss； there does not seem indeed to be one painful reflection connected with his name；〃 observed Miss Agnes。
〃Cherish his memory then among your better recollections；〃 added Mr。 Wyllys； to Harry and Elinor。 〃And an old man can tell you the full value of happy recollections； you will find one day the blessing of such treasures of memory。〃
〃It is a legacy； however； which the good alone can leave their friends；〃 said Miss Agnes。
And so it proved； indeed； after the first severe grief of the sudden bereavement had passed away； the young man was remembered among his friends with a peculiar tenderness； connected with his youth； his genius； his excellent character； his blameless life； and early death。 Life had been but a morning to Charlie Hubbard； but it was a glowing summer morning； its hours had not been wasted； abused； misspent； brief as they were； yet in passing they had brought blessings to himself； to his fellow…beings； and they had left to those who loved him the best consolations of memory。
CHAPTER XXIII。 ｛XLVI｝
〃Is not true love of higher price Than outward form； though fair to see？〃 COLERIDGE。
｛Samuel Taylor Coleridge （English poet； 1772…1834）； 〃Separation〃 lines 9…10｝
HARRY had a busy autumn that year。 He had two important objects in view； and within a few weeks he succeeded in accomplishing both。 He was very desirous； now all difficulties were removed； that his marriage with Elinor should not be deferred any longer than was absolutely necessary。
〃There cannot be the shadow of a reason； love； for waiting；〃 he said to her within a few days of the explanation。 〃Remember； it is now six years since you first promised to become my wifesince we were first engaged。〃
〃Six years； off and on；〃 said Elinor smiling。
〃Not really off more than a moment。〃
Elinor shook her head and smiled。
〃No； not really off more than a very short time。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Elinor archly； 〃but don't you think the less we say about that second year the better？ Perhaps the third and the fourth too。〃
〃No indeed； I have been thinking it all over； and in the first place there has not been a moment in those six years when I have not loved you； though to my bitter mortification I confess； there was also a moment when I was IN LOVE with another； but it was a very short moment； and a very disagreeable one to remember。 No； I wish you to look well into those six years； for I honestly think they will appear more to my credit than you are at all aware of。 I shan't be satisfied until we have talked them over again； my part at least； I don't know that you will submit to the same examination。〃
〃Oh； you have already heard all I have to say；〃 she replied； blushing deeply； 〃I shan't allude to my part of the story again this long while。〃
Nevertheless； Harry soon succeeded in obtaining her consent to be married within six weeks； in fact she made but few objections to the arrangement； although she would have preferred waiting longer； on account of the recent afflictions of Jane and the Hubbards。
The important day soon arrived； and the wedding took place at Wyllys…Roof。 A number of friends and relatives of both parties were collected for the occasion； Mrs。 Stanley； Robert Hazlehurst and his wife； the late Mrs。 George Wyllys and her new husband； or as Harry called them； Mr。 and Mrs。 Uncle Dozie； the Van Hornes； de Vauxes； Bernards； and others。 Mary Van Alstyne was bridesmaid； and Hubert de Vaux groomsman。 The ceremony which at length united our two young friends； was impressively performed by the cle
