Голод

           Youknowwell,ifyouthinkitover,thatnothingisthematterwithmenow.Comeover,then,andgivemeyourhand—orgivemeleavetogotoyou,willyou?Iwon’tdoyouanyharm;Iwillonlykneelbeforeyou,onlyforaminute—kneeldownonthefloorbeforeyou,onlyforaminute,mayI?No,no;there,Iamnottodoitthen,Isee.Youaregettingafraid.Iwillnot,Iwillnotdoit;doyouhear?Lord,whydoyougetsoterrified.Iamstandingquitestill;Iamnotmoving.Iwouldhavekneltdownonthecarpetforamoment—justthere,uponthatpatchofred,atyourfeet;butyougotfrightened—Icouldseeitatonceinyoureyesthatyougotfrightened;thatwaswhyIstoodstill.Ididn’tmoveastepwhenIaskedyoumightI,didI?IstoodjustasimmovableasIstandnowwhenIpointouttheplacetoyouwhereIwouldhavekneltbeforeyou,overthereonthecrimsonroseinthecarpet.Idon’tevenpointwithmyfinger.Idon’tpointatall;Iletitbe,nottofrightenyou.Ionlynodandlookoveratit,likethis!andyouknowperfectlywellwhichroseImean,butyouwon’tletmekneelthere.Youareafraidofme,anddarenotcomeneartome.Icannotconceivehowyoucouldhavethehearttocallmeinsane.Itisn’ttrue;youdon’tbelieveit,either,anylonger?Itwasonceinthesummer,alongtimeago,Iwasmad;Iworkedtoohard,andforgottogotodineattherighthour,whenIhadtoomuchtothinkabout.Thathappeneddayafterday.