Голод
Part III
"
"Oh,naturally;youaregoingwithsomeoneelse."
"No,"Ianswered.
ButIwasconsciousthatIstoodinasorryplightinfaceofthisuniquestreetjade,andImadeupmymindtosaveappearancesatleast.
"Whatisyourname?"Iinquired."Mary,eh?Well,listentomenow,Mary!"andIsetaboutexplainingmybehaviour.ThegirlgrewmoreandmoreastonishedinmeasureasIproceeded.HadshethenbelievedthatI,too,wasoneofthosewhowentaboutthestreetatnightandranafterlittlegirls?Didshereallythinksobadlyofme?HadIperhapssaidanythingrudetoherfromthebeginning?DidonebehaveasIhaddonewhenonewasactuatedbyanybadmotive?Briefly,insomanywords,Ihadaccostedher,andaccompaniedherthosefewpaces,toseehowfarshewouldgoonwithit.Fortherest,mynamewasSo-and-so—PastorSo-and-so."Good-night;depart,andsinnomore!"WiththesewordsIlefther.
Irubbedmyhandswithdelightovermyhappynotion,andsoliloquizedaloud,"Whatajoythereisingoingaboutdoinggoodactions."PerhapsIhadgiventhisfallencreatureanupwardimpulseforherwholelife;saveher,onceforall,fromdestruction,andshewouldappreciateitwhenshecametothinkoverit;remembermeyetinherhourofdeathwiththankfulheart.Ah!intruth,itpaidtobehonourable,upright,andrighteous!
Myspiritswereeffervescing.Ifeltfreshandcourageousenoughtofaceanythingthatmightturnup.
