Голод

           Well,itwasreallyatbestonlyajoke.Well,Ihaveablanketwithmeforwhich,properlyspeaking,Ihavenolongeranyuse,anditstruckmethatyoumighttakeitoffmyhands."

           "Ihave—more’sthepity—awholestorefullofbed-clothes,"hereplied;andwhenIhadopenedithejustcastoneglanceoveritandsaid,"No,excuseme,butIhaven’tanyuseforthateither."

           "Iwantedtoshowyoutheworsesidefirst,"saidI;"it’smuchbetterontheotherside."

           "Ay,ay;it’snogood.Iwon’townit;andyouwouldn’traiseapennyonitanywhere."

           "No,it’sclearitisn’tworthanything,"Isaid;"butIthoughtitmightgowithanotheroldblanketatanauction."

           "Well,no;it’snouse."

           "Threepence?"saidI.

           "No;Iwon’thaveitatall,man!Iwouldn’thaveitinthehouse!"Itookitundermyarmandwenthome.

           Iactedasifnothinghadpassed,spreaditoverthebedagain,smootheditwellout,aswasmycustom,andtriedtowipeawayeverytraceofmylateaction.IcouldnotpossiblyhavebeeninmyrightmindatthemomentwhenIcametotheconclusiontocommitthisrascallytrick.ThemoreIthoughtoveritthemoreunreasonableitseemedtome.Itmusthavebeenanattackofweakness;somerelaxationinmyinnerselfthathadsurprisedmewhenoffmyguard.NeitherhadIfallenstraightintothetrap.