elinor wyllys-2-第69节
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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｝
Adeline is improved in many respects； her mother's advice has had a good effect on her； still it is amusing to see her already training up several little girls for future belles； on her own pattern； rather it is believed to the annoyance of her quiet husband。 Emma Taylor is decidedly less lively； she too having in some measure composed herself； after achieving belle…ship and matrimony。
Mr。 and Mrs。 Uncle Dozie removed from Longbridge not long after their marriage； they have since returned there again； and now； by the last accounts； they are again talking of leaving the place。
Mrs。 Hilson still continues to annoy her family with a persevering ingenuity； for which certain silly women appear peculiarly well qualified； at times she talks of taking the veil in a nunnery； at others； of again entering the bands of Hymen with some English aristocrat of illustrious lineage； she confesses that either step would be sufficiently romantic and aristocratic to suit her refined tastes； but which she will eventually adopt cannot yet be known。 Fortunately； her sister Emmeline has profited much more than the 〃city lady〃 herself by the follies of the past； she has lately married a respectable man； one of their Longbridge neighbours； much to her father's satisfaction。
Mary Van Alstyne remains single； and passes much of her time with Elinor。
Some eighteen months after Harry's marriage； one evening as he was sitting on the piazza at Wyllys…Roof； he received a letter which made him smile； calling Elinor from the drawing…room； he communicated the contents to her。 It was from Ellsworth； announcing his approaching marriage with the lovely Mrs。 Taylor； or in other words； our friend Jane。 Harry laughed a good deal； and coloured a little too； as he plainly saw by the tone of the letter； that his friend was going through precisely the same process as himself； during his Paris days； when he first discovered such wisdom in the depths of Jane's dark eyes； such delicacy of sentiment in the purity of her complexion； such tenderness in every common smile of her beautiful lips。 Ellsworth； however； would probably not find out as soon as himself； that all these beauties made up a lovely picture indeed； but nothing more； for his friend was an accepted suitor； and might indulge himself by keeping agreeable fancies alive as long as he chose； while Harry had been rather rudely awakened from his trance by very shabby treatment in the first place； and a refusal at last。 To Hazlehurst； the most amusing part of Ellsworth's story was； an allusion to a certain resemblance in character between Mrs。 Taylor and 'one whom he had so much admired； one whom he must always admire。'
〃Now； Elinor； do me the justice to say I was never half so bad as that； I never pretended to think Jane like you； in one good quality。〃
〃It would be a pity if you hadJane has good qualities of her own。 But I am rejoiced to hear the news； it is an excellent match for both parties。〃
〃Yes； though Jane is a lovely puppet； and nothing more； yet it is a good match on that very account； Ellsworth will look after her。 It is to be hoped they are satisfied； I think we are； my sweet wife； don't you？〃
His frank； natural； affectionate smile as he spoke； was tolerably satisfactory； certainly as to his estimate of his own fate； and it is to be hoped the reader is by this time sufficiently well acquainted with Elinor and Harry； to credit his account of the matter。 From all we know of both； we are ourselves disposed to believe them very well qualified to pass through life happily together； making the cheerful days pleasanter； and the dark hours less gloomy to each other。
Harry seems to have given up his diplomatic pursuits for the present at least； he remains at home； making himself useful both in private and public life。 Last year he and Elinor were at the Rip…Raps； accompanied by Mr。 Wyllys and Miss Agnes； and a little family of their ownseveral engaging； clever； well…trained children。 The little girls； without being beauties； are not plain； they are indeed quite as pretty as Jane's daughters； the only ugly face in the young troop belongs to a fine…spirited little fellow； to whom it is of no consequence at all； as he has just discarded his petticoats for ever。 Perhaps both father and mother are pleased that such is the case； the feeling would seem to be one of those weaknesses which will linger about every parent's heart。 Yet Elinor acknowledges that she is herself a happy woman without beauty； and Harry； loving her as he does for a thousand good reasons； and inclinations； and partialities； sometimes actually believes that he loves her the better for that plain face which appeals to his more generous feelings。 Many men will always laugh at an ugly woman； and the idea of loving her； but is it an error in Hazlehurst's biographer to suppose that there are others who； placed in similar circumstances； would feel as Harry felt？
｛〃the Rip…Raps〃 = sea resort at Hampton； Virginia； near Old Point Comfort； where Mr。 Ellsworth had seen Elinor in Vol。 II； Chapter II｝
End Volume 2
