Голод

           Didn’tyouknowher?"

           "No,"Ireplied.

           "Itappearstomeyousalutedprofoundlyenough."

           "DidI?"

           "Ha,ha!perhapsyoudidn’t,"said"Missy.""Well,thatisodd.Why,itwasonlyatyoushelooked,too,thewholetime."

           "Whendidyougettoknowher?"Iasked.Hedidnotreallyknowher.Itdatedfromaneveninginautumn.Itwaslate;theywerethreejovialsoulstogether,theycameoutlatefromtheGrand,andmetthisbeinggoingalongalonepastCammermeyer’s,andtheyaddressedher.Atfirstsheansweredrebuffingly;butoneofthejovialspirits,amanwhoneitherfearedfirenorwater,askedherrighttoherfaceifhemightnothavethecivilizedenjoymentofaccompanyingherhome?Hewould,bytheLord,nothurtahaironherhead,asthesayinggoes—onlygowithhertoherdoor,reassurehimselfthatshereachedhomeinsafety,otherwisehecouldnotrestallnight.Hetalkedincessantlyastheywentalong,hitupononethingoranother,dubbedhimselfWaldemarAtterdag,andrepresentedhimselfasaphotographer.Atlastshewasobligedtolaughatthismerrysoulwhorefusedtoberebuffedbyhercoldness,anditfinallyendedbyhisgoingwithher.

           "Indeed,didit?andwhatcameofit?"Iinquired;andIheldmybreathforhisreply.

           "Cameofit?Oh,stopthere;thereistheladyinquestion."

           Webothkeptsilentamoment,both"Missy"andI.