"To be happy," she said, standing passively and looking in his face.
He roused himself, and said:
"Well, I'm all ready. I've only to stop at my room for my trunk."
His hair was tangled, his eyes were bloodshot, his clothes tumbled and
soiled.
"Wouldn't you like to dress yourself?" she asked.
"Why, no; ain't I dressed enough for you? No gentleman dresses when he's
going to travel."
She said no more. The carriage came as Abel had ordered, a private
conveyance to take them quite through to New York. All the time before it
came Kitty Dunham moved solemnly about the room, seeing that nothing was
left. The solemnity fretted Abel.
"What are you so sober about?" he asked impatiently.
"Because I am getting ready for a long journey," she answered,
tranquilly.
"Perhaps not so long," he said, sharply--"not if I choose to leave you
behind."
"But you won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because you will want somebody, and I'm the only person in the world
left to you."
She spoke in the same sober way. Abel knew perfectly well that she spoke
the truth, but he had never thought of it before. Was he then going so
long a journey without a friend, unless she went with him? Was she the
only one left of all the world?
As his mind pondered the question his eye fell upon a newspaper of the
day before, in which he saw his name. He took it up mechanically, and
read a paragraph praising him and his speech; foretelling "honor and
troops of friends" for a young man who began his public career so
brilliantly.
"There; hear this!" said he, as he read it aloud and looked at his
companion. "Troops of friends, do you see? and yet you talk of being my
only dependence in the world! Fie! fie! Mrs. Delilah Jones."
It was melancholy merriment. He did not smile, and the woman's face was
quietly sober.
"For the present, then, Mr. Speaker and fellow-citizens," said Abel Newt,
waving his hand as he saw that every thing was ready, and that the
carriage waited only for him and his companion, "I bid these scenes
adieu! For the present I terminate my brief engagement. And you, my
fellow-members, patterns of purity and pillars of truth, farewell!
Disinterested patriots, I leave you my blessing! Pardon me that I
prefer the climate of the Mediterranean to that of the District, and the
smiles of my Kitty to the intelligent praises of my country. Friends of
my soul, farewell! I kiss my finger tips! Boo--hoo!"
He made a mock bow, and smiled upon an imaginary audience. Then offering
his arm with grave ceremony to his companion as if a crowd had been
looking on, he went down stairs.
CHAPTER LXXXVI.
IN THE CITY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account