Мартин Иден

Chapter 5

           Nooncame,andafternoon. Heforgottoeat,andsoughtonforthebooksonetiquette; for,inadditiontocareer,hismindwasvexedbyasimpleandveryconcreteproblem: Whenyoumeetayoungladyandsheasksyoutocall,howsooncanyoucall? wasthewayhewordedittohimself. Butwhenhefoundtherightshelf,hesoughtvainlyfortheanswer. Hewasappalledatthevastedificeofetiquette,andlosthimselfinthemazesofvisiting-cardconductbetweenpersonsinpolitesociety. Heabandonedhissearch. Hehadnotfoundwhathewanted,thoughhehadfoundthatitwouldtakeallofaman’stimetobepolite,andthathewouldhavetoliveapreliminarylifeinwhichtolearnhowtobepolite. 

           "Didyoufindwhatyouwanted?"themanatthedeskaskedhimashewasleaving. 

           "Yes,sir,"heanswered. "Youhaveafinelibraryhere." 

           Themannodded. "Weshouldbegladtoseeyouhereoften. Areyouasailor?" 

           "Yes,sir,"heanswered. "AndI’llcomeagain." 

           Now,howdidheknowthat?heaskedhimselfashewentdownthestairs. 

           Andforthefirstblockalongthestreethewalkedverystiffandstraightandawkwardly,untilheforgothimselfinhisthoughts,whereuponhisrollinggaitgracefullyreturnedtohim. 

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