The Sot-Weed Factor by John Barth Read Free Book Online

naught but bold resolves!"
    "You lend me courage, Henry," Ebenezer said, rising from the table. "Let us begone."
     

4
    Ebenezer's First Sojourn in London, and
    the Issue of It
     
    B urlingame slept that night in Ebenezer's room, and the next day they left Cambridge for London by carriage.
    "I think you've not yet told me," the young man said en route, "how it is you left St. Giles so suddenly, and how Anna came to know your whereabouts."
    Burlingame sighed. " 'Tis a simple mystery, if a sad one. The fact is, Eben, your father fancies I have designs upon your sister."
    "Nay! Incredible!"
    "Ah, now, as for that, 'tis not so incredible; Anna is a sweet and clever girl, and uncommon lovely."
    "Yet think of your ages!" Ebenezer said. " 'Tis absurd of Father!"
    "Think you 'tis absurd?" Burlingame asked. "Thou'rt a candid fellow."
    "Ah, forgive me," Ebenezer laughed; " 'twas a rude remark. Nay, 'tis not absurd at all: thou'rt but thirty-odd, and Anna twenty-one. I daresay 'tis that you were our teacher made me think of you as older."
    " 'Twere no absurd suspicion, methinks, that any man might look with love on Anna," Burlingame declared, "and I did indeed love the both of you for years, and love you yet; nor did I ever try to hide the fact. 'Tis not that which distresses me; 'tis Andrew's notion that I had vicious designs on the girl. 'Sheart, if anything be improbable, 'tis that so marvelous a creature as Anna could look with favor on a penniless pedagogue!"
    "Nay, Henry, I have oft heard her protest, that by comparison to you, none of her acquaintances was worth the labor of being civil to."
    "Anna said that?"
    "Aye, in a letter not two months past."
    "Ah well, whate'er the case, Andrew took my regard for her as lewd intent, and threatened me one afternoon that should I not begone ere morning he'd shoot me like a dog and horsewhip dear Anna into the bargain. I had no fear for myself, but not to risk bringing injury to her I left at once, albeit it tore my heart to go."
    Ebenezer sat amazed at this revelation. "How she wept that morning! and yet neither she nor Father told me aught of't!"
    "Nor must you speak of it to either," Burlingame warned, "for 'twould but embarrass Anna, would it not? And anger Andrew afresh, for there's no statute of limitations within a family. Think not you'll reason him out of his notion: he is convinced of it."
    "I suppose so," Ebenezer said doubtfully. "Then Anna has been in correspondence with you since?"
    "Not so regularly as I could wish. Egad, how I've yearned for news of you! I took lodgings on Thames Street, between Billingsgate and the Customs-House -- far cry from the summer-pavilion at St. Giles, you'll see! -- and hired myself as tutor whenever I could. For two years and more I was unable to communicate with Anna, for fear your father would hear of't, but some months ago I chanced to be engaged as a tutor in French to a Miss Bromly from Plumtree Street, that remembered you and Anna as playmates ere you removed to St. Giles. Through her I was able to tell Anna where I live, and though I dare not write to her, she hath contrived on two or three occasions to send me letters. 'Twas thus I learned the state of your affairs, and I was but too pleased to act on her suggestion that I fetch you out of Cambridge. She is a dear girl, Eben!"
    "I long to see her again!" Ebenezer said.
    "And I," said Burlingame, "for I esteem her as highly as thee, and 'tis three years since I've seen her."
    "Think you she might visit us in London?"
    "Nay, I fear 'tis out of the question. Andrew would have none of it."
    "Yet surely I cannot resign myself to never seeing her again! Can you, Henry?"
    " 'Tis not my wont to look that far ahead," Burlingame said. "Let us consider rather how you'll occupy yourself in London. You must not sit idle, lest you slip again into languishment and stupor."
    "Alas," said Ebenezer, "I have no long-term goals toward which to labor."
    "Then follow my example," advised Burlingame, "and set