elinor wyllys-2-第77章
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young； he had left a will； giving everything he owned to his mother and eldest sister。 Shortly after his death； some of his friends； Hazlehurst among the number； got up an exhibition of all his pictures； they made a fine and quite numerous collection； for Charlie had painted very rapidly。 The melancholy interest connected with the young painter's name； his high reputation in the particular field he had chosen； the fact that all his paintings were collected together； from the first view of Chewattan lake taken when a mere boy； to the sketch of Nantucket which he was retouching but a moment before his death； and the sad recollection that his palette was now broken for ever； attracted unusual attention。 The result of that melancholy exhibition； with the sale of some remaining pictures； proved sufficient to place his mother and sister； with their moderate views； in very comfortable circumstances； thus even after his death Charlie proved a blessing to his family。 In looking over the young man's papers； Patsey found some lines which surprised her； although they explained several circumstances which she had never before fully understood； they betrayed a secret； undeclared attachment； which had expressed itself simply and gracefully in verses full of feeling and well written。 It was evident from these lines that poor Charlie's poetical imagination； even from early boyhood； had been filled with the lovely image of his young companion； Jane Graham： there was a beautiful sketch of her face among his papers； which from the date； must have been taken from memory while she was in Paris。 It was clear from the tone of the verses； that Charlie had scrupulously confined his secret within his own bosom； for there were a few lines addressed to Jane since her widowhood； lamenting that grief should so soon have thrown a shadow over that lovely head； and concluding with a fear that she would little value even this expression of sympathy from one； to whom she had only given careless indifference； and one who had never asked more than the friendship of early companionship。 Patsey hesitated for a moment； but then decided that the miniature and the verses should never be shownthey should meet no eyes but her own； Charlie had not spoken himself； his secret should remain untold。
We must not omit to mention； that a few weeks after Charlie's death young Van Horne offered himself to Mary Hubbard； the youngest daughter of the family； he was accepted； and the connexion； which was very gratifying to Patsey and her mother； proved a happy one。 Mrs。 Hubbard survived her daughter's marriage several years。 Kate and her little ones have remained at the old grey cottage from the time of Clapp's flight； the children are now growing up promising young people； and they owe much to Patsey's judicious care。 Willie； the hero of the temperance meeting； is her favourite； for she persuades herself that he is like her lost Charlie； and in many respects the boy happily resembles his uncle far more than his father。 Last year Mrs。 Clapp received for the first time； a letter in a handwriting very like that of her husband； its contents seemed distressing； for she wept much； and held several consultations with Patsey。 At length quite a little sum was drawn from their modest means； Kate packed up her trunk； took leave of her sister and children； and set out upon a long and a solitary journey。 She was absent for months； but letters were occasionally received from her； and at length she returned to the grey cottage in deep mourning。 It was supposed that she was now a widow； and as Patsey upon one single occasion confirmed the report； the opinion must have been correct； for Patsey Hubbard's word was truth itself。 No public account of Clapp's death； however； reached Longbridge； and his name was never mentioned by the Hubbards； still； it seemed to be known at last that Mrs。 Clapp had gone to a great distance； to attend her husband during a long and fatal illness： and Mrs。 Tibbs also found out by indefatigable inquiries； far and near； that about the same time one of the elders of Joe Smith； the Mormon impostor； had died of consumption at Nauvoo； that he had written somewhere several months before his death； that a delicate…looking woman had arrived； and had not quitted his side as long as he lived； that immediately after his death she had left Nauvoo； and had gone no one knew whither。 It is quite certain that a young man from Longbridge travelling at the west； wrote home that he had seen Mrs。 Clapp on board a Mississippi steamer； just about that time。 The story is probably true； although nothing very positive is known at Longbridge。
｛〃no public account〃 = the uncertainty surrounding Mr。 Clapp's fate resembles that of Judith Hutter； at the end of James Fenimore Cooper's 〃The Deerslayer〃 （1841）｝
As for Hopgood； we have already mentioned that he had been arrested； and most righteously condemned to a long imprisonment for his share in that unprincipled； audacious conspiracy。 A year afterwards； however； it pleased those in authority to send him out into the community again； he was pardoned
As all reserve is generally dropped in the last chapter； we may as well tell the reader a secret of Mrs。 Creighton's。 We have every reason to believe that she never cared much for Harry； although she always cared a great deal for his fortune。 She was determined to marry again； for two reasons； in the first place she did not wish to give way to a sister…in…law； and she knew her brother intended marrying； and then she never could manage that brother as she wished； he was by no means disposed to throw away as much time； thought； and money upon dissipation； as she would have liked。 She wanted a rich husband； of course； Harry did very well in every particular but oneshe thought him too much like her brother in his tastes to be all she desired； still he suited her better than any of her other admirers； and she would have been quite satisfied to accept him； had he kept his fortune。 Without that fortune； it was a very different affair； he was no longer to be thought of for a moment。 We strongly suspect also； that the pretty widow saw farther than any one else into the true state of matters between Elinor and Harry； long before the parties themselves had had an explanation； and for that reason； so long as she was determined to take Hazlehurst for her second husband； she decidedly encouraged Ellsworth's attention to Elinor。 Since we are so near the last page； we shall also admit that Mrs。 Creighton had quite a strong partiality for Mr。 Stryker； while the gentleman was thoroughly in love with her； but neither was rich； and money； that is to say wealth； was absolutely necessary in the opinion of both parties； so Mr。 Stryker went off to New Orleans in quest of a quadroon heiress recommended to him； and Mrs。 Creighton became Mrs。 Pompey Taylor； junior； marrying the second son of the merchant； an individual who was nearly ten years younger than herself； and resembled his brother in every respect except in being much less handsome。 The happy couple sailed for Europe immediately after the ceremony。
We are sorry to say that Mr。 Taylor； the father； suffered severely； not long after the marriage of his second son； by the great fire； he suffered also in the great panic； and in various other panics which have succeeded one another。 Still he has not failed； but he is a poorer man than when we first had the honour of making his acquaintance。 In other respects he is much what he was fifteen years ago； devoted as much as ever and as exclusively as ever to making money； still valuing everything； visible or invisible； by the market…price in gold； silver； or bank…notes； although unfortunately much less successful than at the commencement of his career； in accumulating dollars and cents； his seems to be 〃the fruitless race； without a prize；〃 and yet Mr。 Taylor is approaching the time of life when the end of the race cannot be very distant。
｛〃the great fire〃 = the fire that destroyed much of downtown New York City in 1835。 〃the great panic。。。〃 = the financial panic of 1837； and the depression that followed； 〃the fruitless race。。。〃 = from William Cowper （English poet； 1731…1800）； 〃Hope〃 line 25｝
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