Голод
Part III
Sothatitshouldnotappearasifshehadshownmethedoor,Isaid:
"Wasyourfatherinthearmy?"andatthesametimeIpreparedtoleave.
"Yes;hewasanofficer.Howdidyouknow?"
"Ididn’tknow;itjustcameintomyhead."
"Thatwasodd."
"Ah,yes;thereweresomeplacesIcametowhereIgotakindofpresentiment.Ha,ha!—apartofmyinsanity,eh?"
Shelookedquicklyup,butdidn’tanswer.IfeltIworriedherwithmypresence,anddeterminedtomakeshortworkofit.Iwenttowardsthedoor.Wouldshenotkissmeanymorenow?notevengivemeherhand?Istoodandwaited.
"Areyougoingnow,then?"shesaid,andyetsheremainedquietlystandingovernearthefireplace.
Ididnotreply.Istoodhumblyinconfusion,andlookedatherwithoutsayinganything.Whyhadn’tsheleftmeinpeace,whennothingwastocomeofit?Whatwasthematterwithhernow?Itdidn’tseemtoputheroutthatIstoodpreparedtoleave.Shewasallatoncecompletelylosttome,andIsearchedforsomethingtosaytoherinfarewell—aweighty,cuttingwordthatwouldstrikeher,andperhapsimpressheralittle.Andinthefaceofmyfirstresolve,hurtasIwas,insteadofbeingproudandcold,disturbedandoffended,Ibeganrightofftotalkoftrifles.Thetellingwordwouldnotcome;Iconductedmyselfinanexceedinglyaimlessfashion.
