Голод
Part IV
ThatwasthesortofmanIwas;IalwayspaidouttothelastdoitwhateverIowed.IfIknewYlajaliaright,neitherdidsheregretthatshehadsentmethemoney,thereforewhydidIsitthereworkingmyselfintoarage?Toputitplainly,theleastshecoulddowastosendmehalf-a-sovereignnowandthen.Thepoorgirlwasindeedinlovewithme—ha!perhapsevenfatallyinlovewithme;...andIsatandpuffedmyselfupwiththisnotion.Therewasnodoubtthatshewasinlovewithme,thepoorgirl.
Itstruckfiveo’clock!AgainIsankundertheweightofmyprolongednervousexcitement.Thehollowwhirringinmyheadmadeitselffeltanew.Istaredstraightahead,keptmyeyesfixed,andgazedatthechemist’sunderthesignoftheelephant.Hungerwaswagingafiercebattleinmeatthismoment,andIwassufferinggreatly.WhilstIsitthusandlookoutintospace,afigurebecomeslittlebylittlecleartomyfixedstare.AtlastIcandistinguishitperfectlyplainly,andIrecognizeit.Itisthatofthecake-vendorwhositshabituallynearthechemist’sunderthesignoftheelephant.Igiveastart,sithalf-uprightontheseat,andbegintoconsider.Yes,itwasquitecorrect—thesamewomanbeforethesametableonthesamespot!Iwhistleafewtimesandsnapmyfingers,risefrommyseat,andmakeforthechemist’s.Nononsenseatall!Whatthedevilwasittomeifitwasthewagesofsin,orwell-earnedNorwegianhucksterpiecesofsilverfromKongsberg?Iwasn’tgoingtobeabused;onemightdieoftoomuchpride...
