Голод
Part IV
Bed-clothesandfurniturewereheapedonthefloat,moth-eatenbedsandchestsofdrawers,red-paintedchairswiththreelegs,mats,oldiron,andtin-ware.Alittlegirl—amerechild,adownrightuglyyoungster,witharunningcoldinhernose—satupontopoftheload,andheldfastwithherpoorlittlebluehandsinordernottotumbleoff.Shesatonaheapoffrightfullystainedmattresses,thatchildrenmusthavelainon,andlookeddownattheurchinswhoweretossingtheemptybottletooneanother....
Istoodgazingatallthis;Ihadnodifficultyinapprehendingeverythingthatpassedbeforeme.WhilstIstoodthereatthewindowandobservedthis,Icouldhearmylandlady’sservantsinginginthekitchenrightalongsideofmyroom.Iknewtheairshewassinging,andIlistenedtohearifshewouldsingfalse,andIsaidtomyselfthatanidiotcouldnothavedoneallthis.
Iwas,Godbepraised,allrightinmysensesasanyman.
Suddenly,Isawtwoofthechildrendowninthestreetfireupandbegintoabuseoneanother.Twolittleboys;Irecognizedoneofthem;hewasmylandlady’sson.Iopenthewindowtohearwhattheyaresayingtooneanother,andimmediatelyaflockofchildrencrowdedtogetherundermywindow,andlookedwistfullyup.Whatdidtheyexpect?Thatsomethingwouldbethrowndown?Witheredflowers,bones,cigarends,oronethingoranother,thattheycouldamusethemselveswith?Theylookedupwiththeirfrost-pinchedfacesandunspeakablywistfuleyes.
