elinor wyllys-2-第52章

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〃It　must　have　been　cramp；　yet　I　never　knew　him　have　it；　and　he　is　one　of　the　best　swimmers　in　the　country！〃　said　de　Vaux。

〃He　must　have　felt　it　coming；　and　had　presence　of　mind　to　loosen　his　hold　of　Hubbard　at　the　same　moment　he　cried　for　help；〃　observed　Smith。

Bruno　was　still　swimming；　now　here；　now　there；　encircling　the　Petrel　in　wider　or　narrower　reaches；　howling　from　time　to　time　with　a　sound　that　went　to　the　hearts　of　all　who　heard　him。　Different　objects　floating　about　beguiled　the　party　for　an　instant　with　hope；　but　each　time　a　few　strokes　of　the　oars　undeceived　them。

Suddenly　Bruno　stopped　within　a　short　distance　of　the　Petrel；　and　dove；　those　in　the　boat　watched　him　eagerly；　he　rose　with　a　sharp　bark；　calling　them　to　the　spot；　then　dove　again；　rose　with　a　howl；　and　for　a　third　time　disappeared　beneath　the　water。　Convinced　that　he　had　found　either　Harry　or　the　negro；　de　Vaux　threw　off　his　coat　and　plunged　into　the　water；　to　examine　the　spot　thoroughly。　The　dog　soon　rose　again　with　a　rope　in　his　mouth；　pulling　it　with　all　his　strength；　uttering　at　the　same　time　a　smothered　cry。　The　rope　was　seized　by　those　in　the　boat；　and　de　Vaux　dove；　he　touched　first　one　body；　then　another；　but　all　his　strength　was　unequal　to　the　task　of　raising　either。　After　a　hurried　examination；　it　was　found　that　one　body；　that　of　the　negro；　was　entangled　in　a　rope　and　thus　held　under　water　from　the　first；　while　Harry's　leg　was　firmly　clenched　in　the　dying　grip　of　Black　Bob；　who　must　have　seized　it　as　Hazlehurst　passed；　and　drawn　him　downward　in　that　way。

In　as　short　a　time　as　possible；　Hazlehurst　and　the　negro　were　placed　in　the　boat　by　the　side　of　Hubbard；　who　had　not　yet　showed　any　sign　of　life；　every　effort　was　made　to　revive　them　by　some　of　the　party；　while　the　others　rowed　with　all　their　strength　towards　the　shore。

All　watched　the　face　of　Van　Horne；　the　young　physician；　with　the　greatest　anxiety；　as　he　leaned　first　over　one；　then　over　another；　directing　the　labours　of　the　rest。

〃Surely　there　must　be　some　hope！〃　cried　de　Vaux　to　him。

〃We　will　leave　no　effort　untried；〃　replied　the　other；　though　he　could　not　look　sanguine。

The　boat　from　the　most　distant　point；　rowed　by　the　steward　and　a　boy　from　the　farm…house；　now　joined　them；　and　those　who　could　not　be　of　use　in　assisting　Van　Horne；　passed　into　her；　taking　their　oars；　and　towing　the　boat　of　the　ill…fated　Petrel　with　her　melancholy　burden　towards　the　beach。　Bruno　could　not　be　moved　from　his　old　master's　side；　it　was　painful　to　see　him　crawling　from　one　body　to　the　other；　with　as　much　watchfulness；　as　much　grief；　and　almost　as　much　intelligence　as　the　surviving　friends；　now　crouching　at　the　cold　feet　of　Hazlehurst；　now　licking　the　stiff　hand；　now　raising　himself　to　gaze　wistfully　at　the　inanimate　features　of　the　young　man。

The　shower　was　passing　over；　the　rain　soon　ceased；　the　clouds　broke　away；　the　sun　burst　again　in　full　glory　upon　the　bay；　the　beach；　the　woods；　throwing　a　brilliant　bow　over　the　island。　But　three　of　those　upon　whom　it　had　shone　only　an　hour　earlier；　were　now　stretched　cold　and　lifeless　on　the　sands；　while　the　mourning　survivors　were　hanging　in　heartfelt　grief　over　the　bodies　of　the　two　friends　and　the　negro　sailor。



CHAPTER　XXII。　｛XLV｝

〃And　e'en　to　wakeful　conscience　unconfest；　Her　fear；　her　grief；　her　joy　were　his　alone。〃　COLERIDGE。　｛sic｝

｛Reginald　Heber　（English　poet；　1783…1826）；　〃Morte　d'Arthur：　A　Fragment〃　lines　II。534…535｝

THE　melancholy　disaster　of　the　Petrel　happened　on　Monday；　it　was　not　until　the　Thursday　following　that　the　evil　tidings　reached　Longbridge。

Elinor；　accompanied　by　Mary　Van　Alstyne；　set　out　quite　early　in　the　morning　to　pay　some　visits　at　different　country…houses　in　the　neighbourhood。　They　had　been　out　some　little　time；　having　driven　several　miles；　and　made　three　or　four　calls；　when　they　reached　Mrs。　Van　Horne's。　On　entering　the　parlour　they　found　the　mistress　of　the　house　was　not　there；　but　a　much　less　agreeable　person；　the　elder　Mrs。　Tibbs；　the　greatest　gossip　in　Longbridge。

〃I　am　glad　to　see　you　this　morning；　young　ladies；〃　she　said。

〃Thank　you；　ma'am；　it　is　a　very　pleasant　morning；　certainly；〃　replied　Elinor；　as　she　took　a　seat　on　the　sofa。

〃Very　pleasant；　yes；　but　I　was　fearful　you　might　have　been　kept　at　home　by　the　bad　news　we　Longbridge　people　have　just　heard。〃

〃It　does　not　seem　to　have　kept　you　at　home　either；　Mrs。　Tibbs；　whatever　it　may　be；〃　replied　Elinor；　smiling；　for　she　knew　that　any　news；　whether　good　or　bad；　always　set　this　lady　in　motion。　Little　did　the　poor　young　girl　suspect　the　nature　of　the　intelligence　that　awaited　her！

〃No；　I　thought　my　good　friend；　Mrs。　Van　Horne；　might　feel　uneasy　about　her　son；　and　came　over　to　be　with　her。〃

〃Mrs。　Van　Horne！　Has　anything　happened　to　the　family？〃

〃You　haven't　heard　the　news　then？I　am　surprised　at　that。　But　here　is　an　account　of　the　accident　in　the　New　Haven　Eagle。　It　has　made　us　all　feel　quite　dreadfully　at　home！〃

〃What　has　happened？Pray　tell　us！〃　exclaimed　Elinor；　now　looking　alarmed。

〃Here　is　the　account；　but　perhaps　you　had　better　let　Miss　Mary　read　it；　she　was　not　so　intimate　with　the　deceased。〃

〃What　is　it？let　me　see　the　paper；　Mary。　An　accident　to　one　of　the　Van　Hornes！〃　and　she　took　the　sheet　from　the　table。　Her　eye　immediately　fell　on　the　following　article：

〃Our　city　was　painfully　excited　this　morning　by　the　intelligence　which　reached　here；　of　a　distressing　accident　to　a　beautiful　little　schooner；　the　property　of　Hubert　de　Vaux；　Esq。；　of　New　York；　which　was　seen　in　our　waters　only　a　few　days　since；　and　attracted　universal　admiration　in　our　port。〃

Elinor's　eyes　could　see　no　farther；　she　stretched　out　the　paper　to　her　cousin；　saying　in　a　faint　voice；　〃Mary；　read！〃

Mary　Van　Alstyne　took　the　paper；　and　continued　silently　to　look　over　the　passage。

〃This　little　schooner；　bound　on　a　cruise　of　pleasure；　had　reached　Martha's　Vineyard；　when；　during　the　sudden　squall　which　passed　over　this　section　also　on　Monday；　she　capsized；　and　melancholy　to　relate；　four　persons　lost　their　lives。　The　party　consisted　of　Mr。　de　Vaux　himself；　Colonel　Stryker；　and　Mr。　Van　Horne；　of　New　York；　Charles　Hubbard；　Esq。；　the　distinguished　young　artist；　Henry　Hazlehurst；　Esq。；　our　secretary　of　Legation　to　the　court　of　Russia；　where　he　was　shortly　to　proceed　with　Mr。　Henley；　our　Envoy；　and　also　Frederick　Smith；　Esq。；　a　young　gentleman　from　Philadelphia。　There　were　in　addition　five　men　in　the　crew。　We　regret　to　add　that　Mr。　Hazlehurst　and　Mr。　Hubbard；　a　negro　sailor　known　as　Black　Bob；　and　another　man；　name　not　mentioned；　were　drowned；　the　bodies　were　all　recovered；　but　every　effort　to　restore　life　proved　unavailing。〃

Mary　Van　Alstyne　had　strong　nerves；　but　the　suddenness　of　these　melancholy　tidings；　and　a　dread　of　the　effect　upon　Elinor；　made　her　turn　deadly　pale。

〃Tell　me；　Mary；〃　said　her　cousin　faintly。

Mary　waited　a　moment　to　recover　herself；　when　the　question　was　anxiously　repeated。　She　took　Elinor's　hand　and　sat　down　by　her　side；　using　every　precaution　of　delicacy　and　tenderness　in　breaking　the　bad　news　to　her　cousin；　she　approached　the　worst　as　gradually　as　she　could；　and　mentioned　every　favourable　circumstance　first；　while　Elinor　sat　trembling　in　every　limb；　yet　endeavouring　to　retain　command　over　her　senses　and　her　feelings。　But　it　was　in　vain；　when　Mary　was　at　length　forced　to　confess　that　two　of　their　friends　were　among　the　lost；　Elinor　put　her　hand　to　her　heart；　while　her　eyes　were　fixed　on　her　cousin's　lips；　when　the　name　of　Hazlehurst　was　at　length　reluctantly　pronounced；　she　started　from　her　chair；　and　fell　quite　insensible　on　the　floor；　at　her　companion's　feet。

It　was　a　long　time　before　she　could　be　restored。　Mrs。　Van　Horne　and　the　doctor；　who　was　happily　in　the　house；　did　all　in　their　power　to　relieve　their　young　friend；　and　Mrs。　Tibbs　was　really　quite　distressed　and　mortified；　when　she　found　the　effects　of　her　allusion　to　the　accident　were　so　serious。

〃Poor　young　thing！I'd　no　notion；　Mrs。　Van　Horne；　that　she　would　have　taken　it　so　much　to　heart。　Do　you　suppose　she　was　engaged　to　one　of　the　young　gentlemen？〃

An　imploring　look　from　Mary　Van　Alstyne　said　to　the　doctor　as　plainly　as　look　could　speak；　〃Do　send　her　away！〃

The　doctor　was　very　ready　to　do　so；　and　by　virtue　of　his　medical　authority　requested　the　gossip　to　walk　into　the　other　room；　where　he　permitted　himself　to　give　her　a　sharp　reprimand　for　having　been　in　such　haste　to　tell　the　evil　tidings。

It　was　some　time　before　Elinor　fully　recovered　her　consciousness；　her　first　words　expressed　a　wish　to　be　carried　home。

〃Home；　Mary；〃　she　said　faintly。

Mrs。　Van　Horne；　who　was　deeply　interested　in　her　young　friend；　was　anxious　she　should　remain　where　she　was　until　her　strength　had　entirely　returned。

〃I　am　strong　now；〃　said　Elinor　feebly；　making　an　effort　to　rise。

Mary　looked　inquiringly　at　the　doctor。

〃You　shall　go　in　a　few　minutes；　my　dear　Miss　Elinor；〃　said　the　doctor　after　an　instant's　hesitation；　he　thought　it　best　that　she　should　do　so；　but　determined　that　his　wife　and　himself　would　accompany　her　to　Wyllys…Roof。

〃Mary；〃　said　Elinor；　with　an　effort；　looking　towards　Mrs。　Van　Horne；　〃ask　if〃

Mary　guessed　that　she　wished　to　know　if　the　Van　Hornes　had　heard　anything　in　addition　to　the　account　in　the　paper。　Without　speaking；　she　looked　the　question。

〃We　have　had　a　few　lines；　sent　us　by　Mrs。　de　Vaux　from　New　York；〃　said　Mrs。　Van　Horne；　gently。

Elinor　closed　her　eyes；　and　fell　back　again　on　the　cushion。

〃You　must　not　talk；　my　dear；〃　said　the　doctor　kindly。

Young　de　Vaux　had　in　fact　written　a　line　or　two　to　his　mother；　who　was　in　New　York；　by　the　boat　which　he　sent　off　immediately　to　engage　a　small　steamer；　as　soon　as　the　squall　had　passed　over；　and　this　note　had　been　considerately　forwarded　by　Mrs。　de　Vaux　to　the　Van　Hornes；　as　it　mentioned　the　safety　of　their　own　son。　It　ran　as　follows：

〃Martha's　Vineyard。

〃MY　DEAR　MOTHER：We　are　greatly　distressed　by　a　melancholy　accident　which　befell　us　scarce　an　hour　since。　The　Petrel　capsized；　most　of　our　party　are　safe；　but　two　of　my　friends　are　gone；　Hazlehurst　and　Hubbard！　You　will　understand　our　grief；　mine　especially！　We　shall　return　immediately。

〃Your　son；　H。　de　V。〃

The　doctor　handed　this　note　to　Mary；　at　a　moment　when　Mrs。　Van　Horne　was　bending　over　Elinor。

In　a　few　minutes　Elinor　made　another　request　to　be　carried　home。

〃Pray　take　me　home；　doctor；〃　she　said；　〃I　can　go　now。〃

The　doctor　felt　her　pulse；　and　observing　that　although　very　feeble；　she　seemed　to　have　command　of　herself；　he　thought　the　air　and　motion　would　be　of　service。　The　carriage　was　ordered；　she　took　a　restorative；　and　making　a　great　effort　to　rally；　leaning　on　the　doctor's　arm　she　walked　to　the　door。　Dr。　and　Mrs。　Van　Horne　accompanied　her；　as　well　as　her　cousin。

〃Thank　you；〃　she　said　with　her　usual　gentleness；　as　she　remarked　their　kind　intention；　and　then　throwing　herself　back　in　her　seat　she　closed　her　eyes；　her　face　was　deadly　pale；　large　tears　would　force　themselves　slowly　from　beneath　her　eyelids；　and　a　shudder　pass　over　her　limbs；　and　yet　it　was　evident　she　made　a　strong　effort　to　control　her　emotion。　There　was　something　in　her　whole　expression　and　manner；　that　bore　all　the　stamp　of　the　deepest　feeling；　it