Голод

           "

           Ibowed;Idaren’tsayanything;Itookoffmyhatandstoodbareheaded.Iwonderifshewillgivemeherhand.

           "Whydon’tyouaskmetogobackalittlewaywithyou?"sheasks,inalowvoice,lookingdownatthetoeofhershoe.

           "GreatHeavens!"Ireply,besidemyself,"GreatHeavens,ifyouonlywould!"

           "Yes;butonlyalittleway."

           Andweturnedround.

           Iwasfearfullyconfused.IabsolutelydidnotknowifIwereonmyheadormyheels.Thiscreatureupsetallmychainofreasoning;turnedittopsy-turvy.Iwasbewitchedandextraordinarilyhappy.ItseemedtomeasifIwerebeingdraggedenchantinglytodestruction.Shehadexpresslywilledtogoback;itwasn’tmynotion,itwasherowndesire.Iwalkonandlookather,andgetmoreandmorebold.Sheencouragesme,drawsmetoherbyeachwordshespeaks.Iforgetforamomentmypoverty,myhumbleposition,mywholemiserablecondition.Ifeelmybloodcoursemadlythroughmywholebody,asinthedaysbeforeIcavedin,andresolvedtofeelmywaybyalittleruse.

           "By-the-way,itwasn’tyouIfollowedthattime,"saidI."Itwasyoursister."

           "Wasitmysister?"shequestions,inthehighestdegreeamazed.Shestandsstill,looksupatme,andpositivelywaitsforananswer.Sheputsthequestioninallsoberearnest.

           "Yes,"Ireplied."Hum—m,thatistosay,itwastheyoungerofthetwoladieswhowentoninfrontofme.