Голод
Part I
ThehonestpawnbrokerbowedtwiceprofoundlytomeasIwithdrew.Iturnedagainandrepeatedmygood-bye.
OnthestairsImetawomanwithatravelling-baginherhand,whosqueezeddiffidentlyagainstthewalltomakeroomforme,andIvoluntarilythrustmyhandinmypocketforsomethingtogiveher,andlookedfoolishasIfoundnothingandpassedonwithmyheaddown.Iheardherknockattheofficedoor;therewasanalarmoverit,andIrecognizedthejinglingsounditgavewhenanyonerappedonthedoorwithhisknuckles.
Thesunstoodinthesouth;itwasabouttwelve.Thewholetownbegantogetonitslegsasitapproachedthefashionablehourforpromenading.BowingandlaughingfolkwalkedupanddownCarlJohannStreet.Istuckmyelbowscloselytomysides,triedtomakemyselflooksmall,andslippedunperceivedpastsomeacquaintanceswhohadtakenuptheirstandatthecornerofUniversityStreettogazeatthepassers-by.IwanderedupCastleHillandfellintoareverie.
HowgailyandlightlythesepeopleImetcarriedtheirradiantheads,andswungthemselvesthroughlifeasthroughaball-room!TherewasnosorrowinasinglelookImet,noburdenonanyshoulder,perhapsnotevenacloudedthought,notalittlehiddenpaininanyofthehappysouls.AndI,walkingintheverymidstofthesepeople,youngandnewly-fledgedasIwas,hadalreadyforgottentheverylookofhappiness.IhuggedthesethoughtstomyselfasIwenton,andfoundthatagreatinjusticehadbeendoneme.
