She felt
as if she were a widow, and hoped he would understand. His full
recognition of her position, and acceptance of the fact that she
did and must mourn for her lover, his complete self-abnegation,
brought her a sense of peace.
The old clock on the landing of the stairway measured off the
hours and days with monotonous regularity. Some of the hours and
days had been immeasurably longer than the ancient timekeeper had
indicated; but in accordance with usual human experiences, they
began to grow shorter. Poignant sorrow cannot maintain its
severity, or people could not live. Vines, grasses, and flowers
covered the graves in Virginia; the little cares, duties, and
amenities of life began to screen at times the sorrows that were
nevertheless ever present.
"Hobart," Helen said one day in the latter part of June, "do you
think you will be strong enough to attend the commemorative
services next week? You know they have been waiting for you."
"Yes," he replied quietly; "'and they should not have delayed them
so long. It is very sad that so many others have been added
since--since--"
"Well, you have not been told, for we have tried to keep every
depressing and disquieting influence from you.
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