Голод

           "Well,wemuststophere!"Isaid,withaffecteddecision.ButsupposingIweretogoinandbegforabitofbread?Surelythatwasafleetingthought,aflash;itcouldneverreallyhaveoccurredtomeseriously."Fie!"Iwhisperedtomyself,andshookmyhead,andheldonmyway.InRebslagerapairofloversstoodinadoorwayandtalkedtogethersoftly;alittlefartherupagirlpoppedherheadoutofawindow.Iwalkedsoslowlyandthoughtfully,thatIlookedasifImightbedeepinmeditationonnothinginparticular,andthewenchcameoutintothestreet."Howistheworldtreatingyou,oldfellow?Eh,what,areyouill?Nay,theLordpreserveus,whataface!"andshedrewawayfrightened.Ipulledupatonce:What’samisswithmyface?HadIreallybeguntodie?Ifeltovermycheekswithmyhand;thin—naturally,Iwasthin—mycheekswereliketwohollowedbowls;butLord...Ireeledalongagain,butagaincametoastandstill;Imustbequiteinconceivablythin.Whoknowsbutthatmyeyesweresinkingrightintomyhead?HowdidIlookinreality?Itwastheverydeucethatonemustletoneselfturnintoalivingdeformityforsheerhunger’ssake.OncemoreIwasseizedbyfury,alastflaringup,afinalspasm."Preserveme,whataface.Eh?"HereIwas,withaheadthatcouldn’tbematchedinthewholecountry,withapairoffiststhat,bytheLord,couldgrindanavvyintofinestdust,andyetIwentandhungeredmyselfintoadeformity,rightinthetownofChristiania.