Голод

           Ah,there,yousee!She,too,wasjustthesame;shetookthislittletourintheeveningswhenshehadnothingtolosebydoingso.ShelivedupinSt.Olav’sPlace.

           "Ylajali,"Icried.

           "Ibegpardon?"

           "Ionlysaid’Ylajali’...it’sallright.Continue...."

           ShelivedupinSt.Olav’sPlace,lonelyenough,togetherwithhermother,towhomonecouldn’ttalkbecauseshewassodeaf.Wasthereanythingoddinherlikingtogetoutforalittle?

           "No,notatall,"Ireplied.

           "No?well,whatthen?"

           Icouldhearbyhervoicethatshewassmiling.

           Hadn’tsheasister?

           Yes;anoldersister.But,by-the-way,howdidIknowthat?ShehadgonetoHamburg.

           "Lately?"

           "Yes;fiveweeksago."FromwheredidIlearnthatshehadasister?

           Ididn’tlearnitatall;Ionlyasked.

           Wekeptsilence.Amanpassesus,withapairofshoesunderhisarm;otherwise,thestreetisemptyasfaraswecansee.OverattheTivolialongrowofcolouredlampsareburning.Itnolongersnows;theskyisclear.

           "Gracious!don’tyoufreezewithoutanovercoat?"inquiresthelady,suddenlylookingatme.

           ShouldItellherwhyIhadnoovercoat;makemysorryconditionknownatonce,andfrightenheraway?Aswellfirstaslast.