Голод

           "Hurryup,"hesays,lookingathiswatch."Ihavebeenwaitingforthetrain;Ihearitcomingnow."

           Itookthemoney;Iwasdumbwithjoy,andneversaidaword;Ididn’teventhankhimonce.

           "Itisn’tworthwhilefeelingputoutaboutit,"saidthe"Commandor"atlast."Iknowyoucanwriteforit."

           Andsooffhewent.

           Whenhehadgoneafewsteps,IrememberedallatoncethatIhadnotthankedhimforthisgreatassistance.Itriedtoovertakehim,butcouldnotgetonquicklyenough;mylegsfailedme,andIcameneartumblingonmyface.Hewentfartherandfartherawayfromme.Igaveuptheattempt;thoughtofcallingafterhim,butdarednot;andwhenafterallIdidmusterupcourageenoughandcalledonceortwice,hewasalreadyattoogreatadistance,andmyvoicehadbecometooweak.

           Iwasleftstandingonthepavement,gazingafterhim.Iweptquietlyandsilently."Ineversawthelike!"Isaidtomyself."Hegavemehalf-a-sovereign."Iwalkedbackandplacedmyselfwherehehadstood,imitatedallhismovementsheldthehalf-sovereignuptomymoistenedeyes,inspecteditonbothsides,andbegantoswear—toswearatthetopofmyvoice,thattherewasnomannerofdoubtthatwhatIheldinmyhandwashalf-a-sovereign.Anhourafter,maybe—averylonghour,forithadgrownverysilentallaroundme—Istood,singularlyenough,outsideNo.11Tomtegaden.