elinor wyllys-2-第65节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 young people； strongly attached to each other； united under such peculiar circumstances； did not part again until a conclusive and satisfactory explanation had taken place。 Harry no doubt was enabled to quiet any scruples he may have felt with regard to Ellsworth； and probably Elinor was assured； that she had entirely mistaken Hazlehurst's feelings during the past summer； that Mrs。 Creighton was his friend's sister； and a charming woman； but not the woman he loved； not the woman he could ever love； after having known his Elinor。 Then； as both parties were frank and warm…hearted； as they had known each other for years； and had just been reunited under circumstances so solemn； there was probably more truth； less reserve； and possibly more tenderness than usual at similar meetings。 Doubtless there were some smiles； and to judge from the tone of both parties on separating； we think that some tears must have been shed。 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
