Farewell to
Geoffrey Bingham.
ENVOL
Thus, then, did these human atoms work out their destinies, these little
grains of animated dust, blown hither and thither by a breath which came
they knew not whence.
If there be any malicious Principle among the Powers around us that
deigns to find amusement in the futile vagaries of man, well might it
laugh, and laugh again, at the great results of all this scheming,
of all these desires, loves and hates; and if there be any pitiful
Principle, well might it sigh over the infinite pathos of human
helplessness. Owen Davies lost in his own passion; Geoffrey crowned with
prosperity and haunted by undying sorrow; Honoria perishing wretchedly
in her hour of satisfied ambition; Beatrice sacrificing herself in love
and blindness, and thereby casting out her joy.
Oh, if she had been content to humbly trust in the Providence above her;
if she had but left that deed undared for one short week!
But Geoffrey still lived, and the child recovered, after hanging for
a while between life and death, and was left to comfort him. May she
survive to be a happy wife and mother, living under conditions more
favourable to her well-being than those which trampled out the life of
that mistaken woman, the ill-starred, great-souled Beatrice, and broke
her father's heart.
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