Голод
Part IV
Sheregainsherself-possessionatonce,looksinsolentlyatme,nay,downrightmaliciously,andentersthehousewithachidingremarktoheroffspring.Shetalksloudly,sothatImayhearit,andsaystohim,"Fie,yououghttobeashamedofyourselftoletpeopleseehownaughtyyouare."
OfallthisthatIstoodthereandobservednotonething,notevenonelittleaccessorydetail,waslostonme;myattentionwasacutelykeen;IabsorbedcarefullyeverylittlethingasIstoodandthoughtoutmyownthought,abouteachthingaccordingasitoccurred.Soitwasimpossiblethattherecouldbeanythingthematterwithmybrain.Howcouldthere,inthiscase,beanythingthematterwithit?
Listen;doyouknowwhat,saidIallatoncetomyself,thatyouhavebeenworryingyourselflongenoughaboutyourbrain,givingyourselfnoendofworryinthismatter?Now,theremustbeanendtothistomfoolery.Isitasignofinsanitytonoticeandapprehendeverythingasaccuratelyasyoudo?Youmakemealmostlaughatyou,Ireply.Tomyminditisnotwithoutitshumorousside,ifIamanyjudgeofsuchacase.Why,ithappenstoeverymanthatheonceinawaysticksfast,andthat,too,justwiththesimplestquestion.Itisofnosignificance,itisoftenapureaccident.AsIhaveremarkedbefore,Iamonthepointofhavingagoodlaughatyourexpense.Asfarasthathucksteraccountisconcerned,thatpaltryfive-sixteenthsofbeggar-man’scheese,Icanhappilydubitso.
