Love stories; New York (N.Y.) -- History -- 1775-1865 -- Fiction
"Not much. None of us weep if we lose what is of no value. And I have
noticed that the happiness of any one is always conditioned by the
unhappiness of some one else. Love usually builds his home out of the
wrecks of other homes. Your cousin and Cornelia will be happy, but
there are others that must suffer, that they may be so. I will go now,
Annie, because until I have written to Mr. Van Ariens, I shall not feel
free. And also, I do not wish him to come here, and in his last letter
he spoke of such an intention."
So the two letters--that of Hyde to Cornelia, and that of Mary Darner
to Van Ariens, left England for America in the same packet; and though
Mary Darner undoubtedly had some suffering and disappointment to
conquer, the fight was all within her. To her friends at the Manor she
was just the same bright, courageous girl; ready for every emergency,
and equally ready to make the most of every pleasure.
And the tone of the Manor House was now set to a key of the highest joy
and expectation. Hyde unconsciously struck the note, for he was happily
busy from morning to night about affairs relating either to his
marriage, or to his future as the head of a great household. All his
old exigent, extravagant liking for rich clothing returned to him. He
had constant visits from his London tailor, a dapper little artist, who
brought with him a profusion of rich cloth, silk and satin, and who
firmly believed that the tailor made the man. There were also endless
interviews with the family lawyer, endless readings of law papers, and
endless consultations about rights and successions, which Hyde was glad
and grateful to leave very much to his father's wisdom and generosity.
At the beginning of this happy period, Hyde had been sure that the
business of his preparations would be arranged in three weeks; a month
had appeared to be a quite unreasonable and impossible delay; but the
month passed, and it was nearly the middle of November when all things
were ready for his voyage. His mother would then have urged a
postponement until spring, but she knew that George would brook no
further delay; and she was wise enough to accept the inevitable
cheerfully. And thus by letting her will lead her, in the very road
necessity drove her, she preserved not only her liberty, but her desire.
Some of these last days were occupied in selecting from her jewels
presents for Cornelia, with webs of gold and silver tissues, and
Spitalfields silks so rich and heavy, that no mortal woman might hope
to outwear them. To these Annie added from her own store of lace, many
very valuable pieces; and the happy bridegroom was proud to see that
love was going to send him away, with both arms full for the beloved.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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