New York: Its Upper Ten and Lower Million — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
New York: Its Upper Ten and Lower Million
John Stuart Mill · en
"I am ready to attend you wherever you go," whispered Arthur, as
leaving the den of Madam Resimer, they went down the dark street.
"But, where shall I go?" was the question that troubled Barnhurst.
"Home?" He shuddered at the thought. Any place but home! "Can I
possibly get rid of him?" Doubtful, exceedingly doubtful; "his arm
is too strong, and he has me in his power in every way. But that
engagement which I have, to meet a person at the hour of four o'clock,
at a peculiar place,--how shall I dispose of it? Shall I fail to keep
it, or shall I make this man a witness of it?"
Barnhurst was troubled. He knew not what to do. And so arm in arm, they
walked along in silence through a multitude of streets,--streets dark
as grave-vaults, and laid out in old times, with a profound contempt of
right angles--streets walled in with huge warehouses, above whose lofty
roofs, you caught but a glimpse of the midnight stars.
And so passing along, they came at length upon the Battery, and
caught the keen blast upon their cheeks, as they wandered among the
leafless trees. They heard the roar of the waters, and saw the glorious
bay,--dim and vast,--surging sullenly under the broad sky, dark with
midnight, and yet, glittering with countless stars. A starlight view of
Manhattan bay, from the Battery--it was a sight worth seeing. Herman
and Arthur, standing there alone, looked forth in silence. They could
not see each other's faces, but Arthur felt the incessant horror which
agitated Barnhurst's arm and Barnhurst heard the groan which seemed
wrung from Arthur's very heart.
For a long time there was silence. Flash on, old midnight, in your
solemn drapery set with stars,--flash on,--you sparkled thus grandly
ten thousand years ago, as you will ten thousand years hence,--what
care you for the agony of these two men, who now with widely different
feelings, stand awed by your sullen splendor!
"If you've seen enough of this, I guess we'd better go," said Arthur,
mildly, "I am ready to follow you wherever you go."
Barnhurst silently moved away from the waters, and as they went
among the leafless trees, Dermoyne looked back toward the sounding
waves--looked back yearningly as though unwilling to leave the sight of
them, something there was so tempting in that sight. One plunge and all
is over!