David Harum: A Story of American LifeWestcott, Edward Noyes
General
David Harum: A Story of American Life
Westcott, Edward Noyes
Bankers -- Fiction; New York (State) -- Fiction
It has been remarked by some one that all mundane things come to an end
sooner or later, and, so far as my experience goes, it bears out that
statement. The engines were successfully repaired, and the ship
eventually came to anchor outside the harbor about eleven o'clock on the
night of the last day. Mary and John were standing together at the
forward rail. There had been but little talk between them, and only of a
desultory and impersonal character. As the anchor chains rattled in the
hawse-pipes, John said, "Well, that ends it."
"What ends what?" she asked.
"The voyage, and the holiday, and the episode, and lots of things," he
replied. "We have come to anchor."
"Yes," she said, "the voyage is over, that is true; but, for my part, if
the last six months can be called a holiday, its end is welcome, and I
should think you might be glad that your holiday is over, too. But I
don't quite understand what you mean by 'the episode and lots of
things.'"
There was an undertone in her utterance which her companion did not
quite comprehend, though it was obvious to him.
"The episode of--of--our friendship, if I may call it so," he replied.
"I call it so," she said decisively. "You have certainly been a friend
to _all_ of us. This episode is over to be sure, but is there any more
than that?"
"Somebody says that 'friendship is largely a matter of streets,'" said
John gloomily. "To-morrow you will go your way and I shall go mine."
"Yes," she replied, rather sharply, "that is true enough; but if that
cynical quotation of yours has anything in it, it's equally true, isn't
it, that friendship is a matter of cabs, and street cars, and the
elevated road? Of course, we can hardly be expected to look you up, but
Sixty-ninth Street isn't exactly in California, and the whole question
lies with yourself. I don't know if you care to be told so, but Julius
and my sister like you very much, and will welcome you heartily always."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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