Henry Is Twenty: A Further Episodic History of Henry Calverly, 3rdMerwin, Samuel
General
Henry Is Twenty: A Further Episodic History of Henry Calverly, 3rd
Merwin, Samuel
Young men -- Fiction
'Oh, no,' Henry managed to say, in a mumbling voice, throwing out his
hands. 'No, it wasn't really anything at all.'
'You will please tell me what it cost.'
'Oh--why--well, fifteen dollars.'
The Senator counted out the money.
'You have placed me greatly in your debt, Mr Calverly. I hope that I may
some day repay you.'
'Oh, no! You see...'
Silence fell upon them.
The Senator rose to go.
'Drink,' he remarked then, 'is an unmitigated evil. Never surrender to
it.'
'I really don't drink at all, Senator.'
'Good! Don't do it. Life is more complex than a young man of your
age can perceive. At best it is a bitter struggle. Evil habits are a
handicap. They aggravate every problem. Good day. We shall see you soon
again at the house, I trust.'
Henry, moved, looked after him as he walked almost briskly away--an
erect, precise little man.
Then Henry went to church.
Herb de Casselles ushered him to a seat. He could just see Cicely. He
thought she looked very sad. Yet she sang brightly in the hymns. And
after the benediction when Herb and Elbow and Dex Smith crowded about
her in the aisle, she smiled quite as usual, and made her quick, eager
Frenchy gestures.
He brushed his hand across his eyes Had he been living through a
dream--a tragic sort of dream?
He made his way, between pews, to a side door, and hurried out. He
couldn't speak to a soul; not now. He walked blindly, very fast, down to
Chestnut Avenue, over to Simpson Street, then up toward the stores and
shops.
Humphrey had a way of working at the office Sundays. He decided to go
there. There was the matter of the fifteen dollars. And Humphrey would
expect him for their usual Sunday dinner at Stanley's.
He was passing Stanley's now. Next came Donovan's drug store. Next
beyond that, Swanson's flower shop.
A carriage--a Victoria--rolled softly by on rubber tyres. Silver jingled
on the harness of the two black horses. Two men in plum-coloured livery
sat like wooden things on the box. On the rear seat were Madame Watt and
Cicely.
The carriage drew up before Swanson's. Madame Watt got heavily out and
went into the shop.
Cicely had turned. She was waving her hand.
Henry found his vision suddenly blurred. Then he was standing by the
carriage, and Cicely was speaking, leaning over close to him so that the
men couldn't hear.
'It was dreadful the way I let you go! I didn't even say good-night. And
all the time I wanted you to know....'
He couldn't speak. He stared at her, lips compressed; temples pounding.
She seemed to be smiling faintly.
'We--we might say good-night now.'
He heard her say that.
She thought he shivered. Then he said huskily:--
'I--I've wanted to call you--to call you--'
'Yes?'
'--Cicely.'.
There was a silence. She whispered, 'I think I've wanted you to.'
He had rested a hand on the plum upholstery beside her. In some way it
touched hers; clasped it; gripped it feverishly.
The colour came rushing to his face. And to hers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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