Голод

           "Itisreallytooconfoundedlycrabbedwriting,"Iexclaimedindespair."Why,Godblessme,hereis5/16thsofapoundofcheeseentered—ha,ha!didanyoneeverhearthelike?Yes,lookhere;youcanseeforyourself."

           "Yes,"shesaid;"itisoftenputdownlikethat;itisakindofDutchcheese.Yes,thatisallright—five-sixteenthsisinthiscasefiveounces."

           "Yes,yes;Iunderstandthatwellenough,"Iinterrupted,althoughintruthIunderstoodnothingmorewhatever.

           Itriedoncemoretogetthislittleaccountright,thatIcouldhavetottedupinasecondsomemonthsago.Isweatedfearfully,andthoughtovertheseenigmaticalfigureswithallmymight,andIblinkedmyeyesreflectingly,asifIwasstudyingthismattersharply,butIhadtogiveitup.Thesefiveouncesofcheesefinishedmecompletely;itwasasifsomethingsnappedwithinmyforehead.Butyet,togivetheimpressionthatIstillworkedoutmycalculation,Imovedmylipsandmutteredanumberaloud,allthewhileslidingfartherandfartherdownthereckoningasifIweresteadilycomingtoaresult.Shesatandwaited.AtlastIsaid:

           "Well,now,Ihavegonethroughitfromfirsttolast,andthereisnomistake,asfarasIcansee."

           "Isn’tthere?"repliedthewoman,"isn’ttherereally?"ButIsawwellthatshedidnotbelieveme,andsheseemedallatoncetothrowadashofcontemptintoherwords,aslightlycarelesstonethatIhadneverheardfromherbefore.