Голод
Part IV
Theremustbesomethingwronginthisreckoning,shesaid;itdidn’tagreewithherownbook;butshehadnotbeenabletofindoutthemistake.
Isettoworktoaddup.Mylandladysatrightoppositeandlookedatme.Iaddedupthesescoreoffiguresfirstoncedown,andfoundthetotalright;thenonceupagain,andarrivedatthesameresult.Ilookedatthewomansittingoppositeme,waitingonmywords.Inoticedatthesametimethatshewaspregnant;itdidnotescapemyattention,andyetIdidnotstareinanywayscrutinizinglyather.
"Thetotalisright,"saidI.
"No;goovereachfigurenow,"sheanswered."Iamsureitcan’tbesomuch;Iampositiveofit."
AndIcommencedtocheckeachline—2loavesat21/2d.,1lampchimney,3d.,soap,4d.,butter,5d....Itdidnotrequireanyparticularlyshrewdheadtorunuptheserowsoffigures—thislittlehucksteraccountinwhichnothingverycomplexoccurred.Itriedhonestlytofindtheerrorthatthewomanspokeabout,butcouldn’tsucceed.AfterIhadmuddledaboutwiththesefiguresforsomeminutesIfeltthat,unfortunately,everythingcommencedtodanceaboutinmyhead;Icouldnolongerdistinguishdebitorcredit;Imixedthewholethingup.Finally,Icametoadeadstopatthefollowingentry—"3.5/16thsofapoundofcheeseat9d."Mybrainfailedmecompletely;Istaredstupidlydownatthecheese,andgotnofarther.
