Голод

           Itookupmyplaceatthefountainanddrewbreath.IstoodtherealongwhileandgazedupatthewindowofNo.2,butshedidnotcome.Well,Iwouldwait;Iwasinnohurry.Shemightbedelayed,andIwaitedon.Itcouldn’twellbethatIhaddreamtthewholething!HadmyfirstmeetingwithheronlyexistedinimaginationthenightIlayindelirium?Ibeganinperplexitytothinkoverit,andwasn’tatallsure.

           "Hem!"camefrombehindme.Iheardthis,andIalsoheardlightstepsnearme,butIdidnotturnround,Ionlystaredupatthewidestaircasebeforeme.

           "Good-evening,"camethen.Iforgettosmile;Idon’teventakeoffmyhatatfirst,Iamsotakenabacktoseehercomethisway.

           "Haveyoubeenwaitinglong?"sheasks.Sheisbreathingalittlequicklyafterherwalk.

           "No,notatall;Ionlycamealittlewhileago,"Ireply."Andbesides,woulditmatterifIhadwaitedlong?Iexpected,by-the-way,thatyouwouldcomefromanotherdirection."

           "Iaccompaniedmammatosomepeople.Mammaisspendingtheeveningwiththem."

           "Oh,indeed,"Isay.

           Wehadbeguntowalkoninvoluntarily.Apolicemanisstandingatthecorner,lookingatus.

           "But,afterall,wherearewegoingto?"sheasks,andstops.

           "Whereveryouwish;onlywhereyouwish."

           "Ugh,yes!butit’ssuchaboretohavetodecideoneself."

           Apause.