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Young Irony
Theironyofitisthatifhehadcaredmoreforthepoemthanfortheladythesonnetwouldbeonlyobvious,imitativerhetoricandnoonewouldeverhavereaditaftertwentyyears....
ThiswasthelastnightAmoryeversawEleanor.Hewasleavinginthemorningandtheyhadagreedtotakealongfarewelltrotbythecoldmoonlight.Shewantedtotalk,shesaid—perhapsthelasttimeinherlifethatshecouldberational(shemeantposewithcomfort).Sotheyhadturnedintothewoodsandrodeforhalfanhourwithscarcelyaword,exceptwhenshewhispered"Damn!"atabothersomebranch—whispereditasnoothergirlwaseverabletowhisperit.ThentheystartedupHarper’sHill,walkingtheirtiredhorses.
"GoodLord!It’squiethere!"whisperedEleanor;"muchmorelonesomethanthewoods."
"Ihatewoods,"Amorysaid,shuddering."Anykindoffoliageorunderbrushatnight.Outhereit’ssobroadandeasyonthespirit."
"Thelongslopeofalonghill."
"Andthecoldmoonrollingmoonlightdownit."
"Andtheeandme,lastandmostimportant."
Itwasquietthatnight—thestraightroadtheyfolloweduptotheedgeofthecliffknewfewfootstepsatanytime.Onlyanoccasionalnegrocabin,silver-grayintherock-ribbedmoonlight,brokethelonglineofbareground;behindlaytheblackedgeofthewoodslikeadarkfrostingonwhitecake,andaheadthesharp,highhorizon.Itwasmuchcolder—socoldthatitsettledonthemanddroveallthewarmnightsfromtheirminds.
"Theendofsummer,"saidEleanorsoftly.