Голод

           "

           "Theyoungest,eh?eh?a-a-ha!"shelaughedoutallatonce,loudly,heartily,likeachild."Oh,howslyyouare;youonlysaidthatjusttogetmetoraisemyveil,didn’tyou?Ah,Ithoughtso;butyoumayjustwaittillyouarebluefirst...justforpunishment."

           Webegantolaughandjest;wetalkedincessantlyallthetime.IdonotknowwhatIsaid,Iwassohappy.Shetoldmethatshehadseenmeoncebefore,alongtimeago,inthetheatre.Ihadthencomradeswithme,andIbehavedlikeamadman;Imustcertainlyhavebeentipsythattimetoo,more’stheshame.

           Whydidshethinkthat?

           Oh,Ihadlaughedso.

           "Really,a-ahyes;Iusedtolaughalotinthosedays."

           "Butnownotanymore?"

           "Ohyes;nowtoo.Itisasplendidthingtoexistsometimes."

           WereachedCarlJohann.Shesaid:"Nowwewon’tgoanyfarther,"andwereturnedthroughUniversityStreet.WhenwearrivedatthefountainoncemoreIslackenedmypacealittle;IknewthatIcouldnotgoanyfartherwithher.

           "Well,nowyoumustturnbackhere,"shesaid,andstopped.

           "Yes,IsupposeImust."

           ButasecondaftershethoughtImightaswellgoasfarasthedoorwithher.Graciousme,therecouldn’tbeanythingwronginthat,couldthere?

           "No,"Ireplied.

           Butwhenwewerestandingatthedoorallmymiseryconfrontedmeclearly.