april hopes-第71部分

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affair　from　the　first　moment　of　her　reconciliation　with　Dan；　she　had　the
effect　of　feeling　that　she　had　sacrificed　enough　to　Mrs。　Brinkley；　and
Mrs。　Brinkley　had　been　restored　to　all　the　original　strength　of　her
conviction　that　she　was　a　solemn　little　unconscious　egotist；　and　Dan　was
as　unselfish　and　good　as　he　was　unequal　to　her　exactions。

〃Oh　no？〃　said　Miss　Cotton。　　〃She　couldn't！〃　implying　that　Alice　would　be
too　delicate　to　speak　of　it。

〃Do　you　see　any　of　his　family　here？〃　asked　Mrs。　Brinkley。

〃Yes；　over　thereup　front。〃　　Miss　Cotton　motioned；　with　her　eyes　toward　a
pew　in　which　Mrs。　Brinkley　distinguished　an　elderly　gentleman's　down…
misted　bald　head　and　the　back　of　a　young　lady's　bonnet。　　〃His　father　and
sister；　the　other's　a　bridemaid；　mother　bed…ridden　and　couldn't　come。〃

〃They　might　have　brought　her　in　an…arm…chair；〃　suggested　Mrs。　Brinkley
ironically；　〃on　such　an　occasion。　　But　perhaps　they　don't　take　much
interest　in　such　a　patched…up　affair。〃

〃Oh　yes；　they　do！〃　　exclaimed　Miss　Cotton。　　〃They　idolise　Alice。〃

〃And　Mrs。　Pasmer　and　Mister；　too？〃

〃I　don't　suppose　that　so　much　matters。〃

〃They　know　how　to　acquiesce；　I've　no　doubt。〃

〃Oh　yes！　　You've　heard？　　The　young　people　are　going　abroad　first　with　her
family　for　a　year；　and　then　they　come　back　to　live　with　hiswhere　the
Works　are。〃

〃Poor　fellow！〃　said　Mrs。　Brinkley。

〃Why；　Mrs。　Brinkley；　do　you　still　feel　that　way？〃　asked　Miss　Cotton；　with
a　certain　distress。　　It　seems　to　me　that　if　ever　two　young　people　had　the
promise　of　happiness；　they　have。　　Just　see　what　their　love　has　done　for
them　already！〃

〃And　you　still　think　that　in　these　cases　love　can　do　everything？〃

Miss　Cotton　was　about　to　reply；　when　she　observed　that　the　people　about
her　had　stopped　talking。　　The　bridegroom；　with　his　best　man；　in　whom　his
few　acquaintances　there　recognised　Boardman　with　some　surprise；　came　over
the　chancel　from　one　side。

Miss　Cotton　bent　close　to　Mrs。　Brinkley　and　whispered　rapidly：　〃Alice
found　out　Mr。　Mavering　wished　it；　and　insisted　on　his　having　him。　　It　was
a　great　concession；　but　she's　perfectly　magnanimous。　　Poor　fellow！　how　he
does　look！〃

Alice；　on　her　father's　arm；　with　her　bridemaids；　of　whom　the　first　was
Minnie　Mavering；　mounted　the　chancel　steps；　where　Mr。　Pasmer　remained
standing　till　he　advanced　to　give　away　the　bride。　　He　behaved　with　great
dignity；　but　seemed　deeply　affected；　the　ladies　in　the　front　pews　said
they　could　see　his　face　twitch；　but　he　never　looked　handsomer。

The　five　clergymen　carne　from　the　back　of　the　chancel　in　their　white
surplices。　　The　ceremony　proceeded　to　the　end。

The　young　couple　drove　at　once　to　the　station；　where　they　were　to　take　the
train　for　New　York；　and　wait　there　a　day　or　two　for　Mrs。　and　Mr。　Pasmer
before　they　all　sailed。

As　they　drove　along；　Alice　held　Dan's　wrist　in　the　cold　clutch　of　her
trembling　little　ungloved　hand；　on　which　her　wedding　ring　shone。　　〃O
dearest！　let　us　be　good！〃　she　said。　　〃I　will　try　my　best。　　I　will　try　not
to　be　exacting　and　unreasonable；　and　I　know　I　can。　　I　won't　even　make　any
conditions；　if　you　will　always　be　frank　and　open　with　me；　and　tell　me
everything。〃

He　leaned　over　and　kissed　her　behind　the　drawn　curtains。　　〃I　will；　Alice！
I　will　indeed！　　I　won't　keep　anything　from　you　after　this。〃

He　resolved　to　tell　her　all　about　Julia　Anderson　at　the　right　moment；　when
Alice　was　in　the　mood；　and　as　soon　as　he　thoroughly　understood　what　he　had
really　meant　himself。

If　he　had　been　different　she　would　not　have　asked　him　to　be　frank　and
open；　if　she　had　been　different；　he　might　have　been　frank　and　open。　　This
was　the　beginning　of　their　married　life。







End