Голод

           Asingularlyhappyideahadjuststruckmeaboutachurchbell—achurchbellthatwastopealoutatacertainpointinmydrama.Allwasgoingaheadwithoverwhelmingrapidity.ThenIheardasteponthestairs.Itremble,andamalmostbesidemyself;sitreadytobolt,timorous,watchful,fulloffearateverything,andexcitedbyhunger.Ilistennervously,justholdthepencilstillinmyhand,andlisten.Icannotwriteawordmore.Thedooropensandthepairfrombelowenter.

           EvenbeforeIhadtimetomakeanexcuseforwhatIhaddone,thelandladycallsout,asifstruckofaheapwithamazement:

           "Well,Godblessandsaveus,ifheisn’tsittinghereagain!"

           "Excuseme,"Isaid,andIwouldhaveaddedmore,butgotnofarther;thelandladyflungopenthedoor,asfarasitwouldgo,andshrieked:

           "Ifyoudon’tgoout,now,mayGodblastme,butI’llfetchthepolice!"

           Igotup.

           "Ionlywantedtosaygood-byetoyou,"Imurmured;"andIhadtowaitforyou.Ididn’ttouchanything;Ionlyjustsathereonthechair...."

           "Yes,yes;therewasnoharminthat,"saidtheman."Whatthedevildoesitmatter?Letthemanalone;he—"

           BythistimeIhadreachedtheendofthestairs.AllatonceIgotfuriouswiththisfat,swollenwoman,whofollowedclosetomyheelstogetridofmequickly,andIstoodquietamomentwiththeworstabusiveepithetsonmytonguereadytoslingather.