Голод
Part III
Howwasonetokeepupone’scouragewhenonewassobrokendown?HereIstoodbeforeayounglady,dirty,ragged,torn,disfiguredbyhunger,unwashed,andonlyhalf-clad;itwasenoughtomakeonesinkintotheearth.Ishrankintomyself,bentmyheadinvoluntarily,andsaid:
"MayInotmeetyouanymorethen?"
Ihadnohopeofbeingpermittedtoseeheragain.IalmostwishedforasharpNo,thatwouldpullmetogetherabitandrendermecallous.
"Yes,"shewhisperedsoftly,almostinaudibly.
"When?"
"Idon’tknow."
Apause....
"Won’tyoubesokindastoliftyourveil,onlyjustforaminute,"Iasked."SothatIcanseewhomIhavebeentalkingto.Justforonemoment,forindeedImustseewhomIhavebeentalkingto."
Anotherpause....
"YoucanmeetmeoutsidehereonTuesdayevening,"shesaid."Willyou?"
"Yes,dearlady,ifIhavepermissionto."
"Ateighto’clock."
"Verywell."
Istrokeddownhercloakwithmyhand,merelytohaveanexcusefortouchingher.Itwasadelighttometobesonearher.
"Andyoumustn’tthinkalltoobadlyofme,"sheadded;shewassmilingagain.
"No."
Suddenlyshemadearesolutemovementanddrewherveilupoverherforehead;westoodandgazedatoneanotherforasecond.
"Ylajali!"Icried.
