"I flattered myself I had been a sort of brother to you in old times," said Harry smiling.
"Your romantic, adopted brothers, Nelly, are not good for much," said her grandfather. "We tried the experiment with Harry, and see how it has turned out; it generally proves so, either too much or too little. Don't fancy you know anything about plain, honest, brotherly affection," he added, smiling kindly on his granddaughter, who sat by his side.
Probably Harry was quite as well satisfied with the actual state of things.
"But Charlie was also a son to Miss Patsey," he added, after a moment.
"Yes; he had been almost entirely under her care from an infant," replied Miss Agnes.
"Poor Charlie!—little did I think that bright young head would be laid in the grave before mine!" said Mr. Wyllys.
A moment's pause ensued.
"Much as I loved Hubbard, much as I regret his loss," said Harry,
"I shall always think of him with a melancholy pleasure."
"Excepting his loss, there does not seem indeed to be one painful reflection connected with his name," observed Miss Agnes.
"Cherish his memory then among your better recollections," added Mr. Wyllys, to Harry and Elinor. "And an old man can tell you the full value of happy recollections; you will find one day the blessing of such treasures of memory."