Part 28 (2/2)
He turned round upon me like lightning, and cried, ”Red-burn! you must swear another oath, and instantly.”
”And why?” said I, in alarm, ”what more would you have me swear?”
”Never to question me again about this infernal trip to London!” he shouted, with the foam at his lips--”never to breathe it! swear!”
”I certainly shall not trouble you, Harry, with questions, if you do not desire it,” said I, ”but there's no need of swearing.”
”Swear it, I say, as you love me, Redburn,” he added, imploringly.
”Well, then, I solemnly do. Now lie down, and let us forget ourselves as soon as we can; for me, you have made me the most miserable dog alive.”
”And what am I?” cried Harry; ”but pardon me, Redburn, I did not mean to offend; if you knew all--but no, no!--never mind, never mind!” And he ran to the bust, and whispered in its ear. A waiter came.
”Brandy,” whispered Harry, with clenched teeth.
”Are you not going to sleep, then?” said I, more and more alarmed at his wildness, and fearful of the effects of his drinking still more, in such a mood.
”No sleep for me! sleep if you can--I mean to sit up with a decanter!--let me see”--looking at the ormolu clock on the mantel--”it's only two hours to morning.”
The waiter, looking very sleepy, and with a green shade on his brow, appeared with the decanter and gla.s.ses on a salver, and was told to leave it and depart.
Seeing that Harry was not to be moved, I once more threw myself on the lounge. I did not sleep; but, like a somnambulist, only dozed now and then; starting from my dreams; while Harry sat, with his hat on, at the table; the brandy before him; from which he occasionally poured into his gla.s.s. Instead of exciting him, however, to my amazement, the spirits seemed to soothe him down; and, ere long, he was comparatively calm.
At last, just as I had fallen into a deep sleep, I was wakened by his shaking me, and saying our cab was at the door.
”Look! it is broad day,” said he, brus.h.i.+ng aside the heavy hangings of the window.
We left the room; and pa.s.sing through the now silent and deserted hall of pillars, which, at this hour, reeked as with blended roses and cigar-stumps decayed; a dumb waiter; rubbing his eyes, flung open the street door; we sprang into the cab; and soon found ourselves whirled along northward by railroad, toward Prince's Dock and the Highlander.
XLVII. HOMEWARD BOUND
Once more in Liverpool; and wending my way through the same old streets to the sign of the Golden Anchor; I could scarcely credit the events of the last thirty-six hours.
So unforeseen had been our departure in the first place; so rapid our journey; so unaccountable the conduct of Harry; and so sudden our return; that all united to overwhelm me. That I had been at all in London seemed impossible; and that I had been there, and come away little the wiser, was almost distracting to one who, like me, had so longed to behold that metropolis of marvels.
I looked hard at Harry as he walked in silence at my side; I stared at the houses we pa.s.sed; I thought of the cab, the gas lighted hall in the Palace of Aladdin, the pictures, the letter, the oath, the dirk; the mysterious place where all these mysteries had occurred; and then, was almost ready to conclude, that the pale yellow wine had been drugged.
As for Harry, stuffing his false whiskers and mustache into his pocket, he now led the way to the boarding-house; and saluting the landlady, was shown to his room; where we immediately s.h.i.+fted our clothes, appearing once more in our sailor habiliments.
”Well, what do you propose to do now, Harry?” said I, with a heavy heart.
”Why, visit your Yankee land in the Highlander, of course--what else?'
he replied.
”And is it to be a visit, or a long stay?” asked I.
<script>