elinor wyllys-2-第53章

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at　bore　all　the　stamp　of　the　deepest　feeling；　it　was　no　common　nervousness；　no　shock　of　sudden　surprise；　nor　merely　friendly　sympathy；　it　was　the　expression　of　unalloyed　grief　springing　from　the　very　depths　of　a　noble　heart。

Even　Dr。　Van　Horne；　whose　nerves　had　been　hardened　by　the　exercise　of　years　amid　scenes　peculiar　to　his　calling；　could　scarcely　refrain　from　shedding　tears；　as　he　looked　with　compassion　and　with　respect　at　his　young　friend。　She　seemed　quite　indifferent　to　the　observation　of　others；　her　heart　and　mind　were　apparently　engrossed　by　one　idea；　one　feeling；　and　all　her　strength　engaged　in　facing　one　evil。

Mrs。　Van　Horne　had　not　supposed　that　the　bad　news　would　have　affected　her　so　deeply；　nor　was　Mary　Van　Alstyne　prepared　for　the　result；　but　however　Elinor　might　have　hitherto　deceived　herself；　however　much　her　friends　might　have　misunderstood　her；　the　truth　was　now　only　too　clear；　her　heart　had　spoken　too　loudly　to　be　misunderstoodit　was　wholly　Hazlehurst's。

They　drove　on　steadily　and　slowly；　the　silence　only　interrupted　by　occasional　remarks　of　Elinor's　companions；　as　they　offered　her　some　assistance。　When　they　came　in　sight　of　the　Hubbard　cottage；　Mary　Van　Alstyne's　heart　sunk　anew；　as　she　remembered　the　blow　which　had　also　fallen　upon　their　good　neighbours。

Elinor's　efforts　for　self…command　increased　as　she　drew　near　homefor　the　sake　of　her　friends；　her　aunt　and　grandfather；　she　strained　every　nerve；　but　on　reaching　the　house　it　was　in　vain；　her　resolution　gave　way　entirely　when　she　saw　Bruno　lying　in　his　usual　place　on　the　piazza。　She　became　so　much　agitated　that　it　was　feared　she　would　again　fall　into　a　deep　swoon；　and　she　was　carried　from　the　carriage　to　a　sofa　in　the　drawing…room。　Neither　Miss　Agnes　nor　Mr。　Wyllys　was　at　home；　they　had　gone　to　their　afflicted　neighbours　the　Hubbards。　An　express　had　brought　a　report　of　the　melancholy　catastrophe；　not　half　an　hour　after　Elinor　had　left　Wyllys…Roof　in　the　morning；　the　lifeless　body　of　our　poor　young　friend；　Charlie；　was　to　reach　Longbridge　that　afternoon；　and　Hubert　de　Vaux　had　come　to　request　Miss　Agnes　to　break　the　sad　truth　to　the　bereaved　mother　and　sister。　Jane　also　was　absent；　she　was　in　New　York　with　the　Taylors；　but　Elinor's　faithful　nurse　and　the　old　black　cook　came　hurrying　to　her　assistance；　as　soon　as　they　knew　she　had　reached　the　house　so　much　indisposed。

｛〃express〃　=　special　messenger｝

Miss　Agnes　was　sent　for；　but　Elinor　had　revived　again　when　her　aunt　returned；　though　she　was　still　surrounded　by　the　anxious　circle；　Mary；　the　Van　Hornes；　her　nurse；　and　old　Hetty。　When　she　heard　the　footsteps　approaching；　she　made　an　effort　to　raise　herself；　with　a　sort　of　instinctive　desire　to　spare　her　aunt　a　sight　of　all　her　weakness。

〃You　had　better　lie　still；　my　dear　Miss　Elinor；〃　said　the　doctor　kindly；　offering　her　a　glass　of　some　restorative。

Miss　Agnes　entered　the　room　and　advanced　anxiously　to　the　sofa。

〃My　poor　child！〃　exclaimed　Miss　Wyllys。　〃What　is　it；　doctor？illness？〃　she　added　anxiously。

The　doctor　shook　his　head。　〃She　heard　the　news　too　suddenly；〃　he　said。

Mr。　Wyllys　now　followed　his　daughter。　Elinor　turned　her　eyes　towards　the　door　as　he　entered；　a　cry　burst　from　her　lipsshe　saw　Hazlehurst！

Yes；　Hazlehurst　standing　in　the　doorway；　looking　pale　and　distressed；　but　living；　breathing；　moving！

In　another　second　Elinor　had　started　to　her　feet；　sprung　towards　him；　and　thrown　herself　in　his　armsheedless　of　the　family；　heedless　of　friends　and　servants　about　her；　forgetting　in　that　one　sudden　revulsion　of　feeling；　the　whole　world　but　Harry。

｛〃revulsion〃　=　a　sudden　change　of　feeling｝

Hazlehurst　seemed　quite　forgetful　himself　of　the　everyday　｛sic｝　rules　of　society；　and　the　merely　friendly　position　in　which　they　had　stood　at　parting；　but　a　week　before；　his　whole　expression　and　manner　now　betrayed　an　interest　in　Elinor　too　strong　to　be　disguised；　and　which　could　be　explained　in　one　way　only。

All　this　was　the　work　of　a　moment；　the　various　degrees　of　amazement；　produced　by　the　sudden　appearance　of　Harry；　on　some　individuals　of　the　group　of　spectators；　the　surprise　of　others　at　the　strong　emotions　betrayed　by　the　young　couple　had　not　subsided；　when　an　exclamation　from　Hazlehurst　himself　again　fixed　their　attention　entirely　on　Elinor。　

〃She　has　fainted！〃　he　cried；　and　carried　her　to　the　sofa。

But　joy　is　life　to　the　heart　and　spirits；　Elinor　lost　her　consciousness　for　a　moment　only。　She　raised　her　eyes　and　fixed　them　upon　Hazlehurst；　who　still　held　one　of　her　hands。

〃It　is　Harry！〃　she　exclaimed；　and　burst　into　tears。　She　felt　that　he　was　safe；　that　he　was　by　her　side；　she　already　felt　that　he　loved　her；　that　they　understood　each　other；　and　yet　she　was　still　quite　incapable　of　giving　anything　like　a　reason　for　what　had　passed。　It　was　all　confusion　in　her　mind；　all　indistinct　but　the　blessed　truth　that　Harry　was　safe；　accompanied　by　a　hope　she　had　not　dared　to　cherish　for　years。　She　was　still　feeble　and　agitated；　her　colour　varying　with　every　beat　of　her　heart；　her　face　now　covered　with　a　deep　natural　blush　at　the　sound　of　Harry's　voice；　at　the　expression　of　his　eye；　now　deadly　pale　again　as　she　caught　some　allusion　to　the　Petrel。

The　doctor　recommended　that　she　should　be　left　alone　with　Miss　Wyllys。　Her　grandfather　kissed　her　tenderly　and　left　the　room；　as　well　as　the　rest　of　the　party；　with　one　exception；　howeverHazlehurst　lingered　behind。

Having　reached　the　adjoining　room；　explanations　were　exchanged　between　the　friends。　Mr。　Wyllys　learned　that　Elinor　and　the　Van　Hornes　had　supposed　Harry　lost；　from　the　paper；　and　the　first　hurried　note　of　de　Vaux。　When　they　arrived　at　Wyllys…Roof；　there　was　no　one　there　to　give　them　any　later　information；　Mammy　Sarah；　the　nurse；　knew　no　more　than　themselves；　she　had　heard　the　Broadlawn　story；　after　having　seen　young　de　Vaux　leave　the　house　with　Miss　Agnes；　when　they　first　went　to　the　Hubbards'。　Hazlehurst　had　not　accompanied　his　friend；　for　he　had　seen　Mr。　Wyllys　in　a　neighbouring　field；　and　went　there　to　give　him　the　information；　and　thence　they　had　both　gone　to　the　cottage；　where　they　remained　until　Mrs。　Clapp　and　Mr。　Joseph　Hubbard　arrived　from　Longbridge。　Neither　Mr。　Wyllys　nor　Miss　Agnes　had　received　the　least　intimation　of　the　accident；　until　they　heard　a　correct　account　from　de　Vaux；　and　Harry　himself；　consequently　they　had　not　felt　the　same　alarm　for　Hazlehurst。

Dr。　and　Mrs。　Van　Horne　were　much　gratified　by　hearing；　that　Hazlehurst's　restoration　was　owing　to　the　devoted　perseverance　of　their　son；　for　it　was　only　after　every　one　else　had　given　up　the　hope　of　reviving　him；　after　long　and　ceaseless　exertions；　that　signs　of　life　were　discovered。　They　also　now　learned　the　circumstances　of　the　accident；　the　fact　that　two　instead　of　four　persons　were　lost；　and　they　found　that　it　was　in　endeavouring　to　save　Charlie　that　Harry　had　so　nearly　lost　his　own　life。　But　we　leave　them　together　to　express　their　natural　feelings　of　gratitude　for　those　who　had　escaped；　sympathy　with　the　sufferers；　their　surprise　at　Harry's　appearance；　and　all　the　varying　emotions　of　such　a　moment。

While　this　conversation　was　passing　in　one　room；　Elinor　was　in　some　measure　recovering　from　the　first　sudden　shock　of　the　morning　in　the　other。　Harry　seemed　fully　determined　to　maintain　his　post　at　her　side；　and　still　kept　possession　of　her　hand；　in　fact；　the　solemn；　anxious　moment；　hallowed　by　grief；　at　which　the　disclosure　of　their　mutual　feelings　had　been　made；　seemed　to　banish　all　common；　petty　embarrassments。　Miss　Agnes　and　Harry　required　but　a　word　and　a　look　to　explain　matters；　the　aunt　already　understood　it　all。

〃Poor　Charlie！〃　exclaimed　Elinor；　with　a　half…inquiring　look；　as　if　with　a　faint　hope　that　he　too　might　have　returned；　like　Harry。

〃Our　friend　is　gone；　dearest！〃　said　Harry；　his　eyes　moistened　with　tears　as　he　spoke。

Elinor　wept；　and　a　silence　of　a　minute　ensued。　〃His　poor　mother；　and　his　sister！〃　she　exclaimed　at　length。

〃His　two　mothers；　rather；〃　said　Harry；　with　a　faltering　voice。

After　another　silence；　Elinor　turned　to　Hazlehurst　with　an　anxious　look；　saying：

〃And　your　other　friends？〃

〃All　safe；　love。〃

〃The　crew　too？〃

〃One　of　the　crew　is　lost；　Black　Bob；　a　sailor　from　Longbridge。〃

〃I　remember　him；　he　had　no　family　I　believe；　Aunt；〃　she　said。

〃None；　my　child；　that　I　have　ever　heard　of。〃

〃The　heaviest　blow　has　fallen　upon　the　Hubbards；〃　said　Harry。

After　a　pause；　in　which　aunt　and　niece　had　prayed　for　the　mourners；　Elinor　again　made　some　inquiries。

〃Were　all　in　the　Petrel　at　the　time？〃　asked　Elinor。

〃Smith　and　our　poor　Charlie；　the　negro　and　a　boy　were　crossing　a　bay　in　the　Petrel；　when　she　capsized；　by　the　bad　management　of　the　negro；　who　had　been　drinking。　The　rest　of　us　were　on　shore。〃

〃You　were　not　in　any　danger　then？〃　said　Elinor；　as　if　relieved　that　he　had　not　even　been　exposed　to　past　peril。

〃I　owe　my　life　to　my　friend　Van　Horne；〃　he　replied。

Elinor　shuddered；　and　turned　deadly　pale　again。　Harry　threw　his　arms　about　her　and　embraced　her　fervently；　until　Elinor；　who　had　now　partially　recovered　the　common　current　of　her　ideas；　made　a　gentle　struggle　to　release　herself。

〃But　you　were　not　in　the　Petrel？〃　she　said　again；　as　if　anxious　to　understand　all　that　related　to　him。

〃We　all　went　to　our　friends　as　soon　as　we　saw　the　schooner　capsize；〃　said　Harry。

〃Hubert　de　Vaux　told　me　that　Harry　swam　some　distance；　with　the　hope　of　saving　poor　Charles；　who　could　not　swim　himself；〃　said　Miss　Agnes。　〃It　was　in　that　way；　my　child；　that　he　was　exposed。〃

〃To　save　Charlie！that　was　like　you；〃　said　Elinor；　with　a　glow　on　her　cheek。

〃There　was　no　dangerno　merit　whatever　in　doing　soI　have　often　swum　farther；〃　said　Harry；　〃the　only　difficulty　was　caused　by　my　becoming　entangled　in　some　ropes；　which　drew　me　under　water。〃　

〃But　where　was　the　boat？〃

〃It　was　not　at　hand　at　the　moment；　they　brought　it　as　soon　as　possible。〃

〃Did　Charlie　speak？〃　asked　Elinor；　sadly。

〃My　poor　friend　was　insensible　when　I　reached　him。〃

Again　a　moment's　pause　ensued。

〃I　must　not　forget　to　tell　you；　love；　that　we　owe　a　great　deal　to　another　friend　of　ours；〃　said　Harry；　smiling。　〃You　will　be　glad　to　hear　that　Bruno　behaved　nobly；　he　first　discovered　the　ropes　in　which　we　were　entangled。〃

〃Bruno！Where　is　my　noble　dog？　Pray　call　him；　let　me　see　him！〃

Harry　went　to　the　door；　and　there　was　Bruno　lying　across　the　threshold；　as　if　waiting　to　be　admitted；　he　came　in　at　Harry's　call；　but　not　with　his　usual　bound；　he　seemed　to　understand　that　if　his　old　master　had　been　saved；　his　master's　friend　was　lost。　The　noble　creature　was　much　caressed　by　Miss　Wyllys　and　Elinor；　and　we　are　not　ashamed　to　confess　that　the　latter　kissed　him　more　than　once。　At　length；　Miss　Agnes　observing　that　her　niece　was　very　much　recovered；　rose　from　her　seat；　and　stooping　to　kiss　Elinor's　forehead；　placed　her　hand　in　that　of　Harry；　saying　with　much　feeling；　as　she　joined　them；　〃God　bless　you；　my　children！〃　and　then　left　the　room。

As　for　what　passed　after　Miss　Agnes　left　her　young　friends；　we　cannot　say；　Bruno　was　the　only　witness　to　that　interview　between　Harry　and　Elinor；　and　as　Bruno　was　no　tell…tale；　nothing　has　ever　transpired　on　the　subject。　We　may　suppose；　however；　that　two　you