Голод
Part I
"IusedtotellmyselfconstantlythatsomedayIwasboundtosucceed;andreallyoccasionallywhenIwasinluck’sway,andmadeahitwithsomething,Icouldgetfiveshillingsforanafternoon’swork.
OnceagainIraisedmyselffromthewindow,wentovertothewashing-stand,andsprinkledsomewaterontheshinykneesofmytrouserstodullthemalittleandmakethemlookatriflenewer.Havingdonethis,Ipocketedpaperandpencilasusualandwentout.Istoleveryquietlydownthestairsinordernottoattractmylandlady’sattention(afewdayshadelapsedsincemyrenthadfallendue,andIhadnolongeranythingwherewithtoraiseit).
Itwasnineo’clock.Therollofvehiclesandhumofvoicesfilledtheair,amightymorning-choirmingledwiththefootstepsofthepedestrians,andthecrackofthehack-drivers’whips.Theclamoroustrafficeverywhereexhilaratedmeatonce,andIbegantofeelmoreandmorecontented.Nothingwasfartherfrommyintentionthantomerelytakeamorningwalkintheopenair.Whathadtheairtodowithmylungs?Iwasstrongasagiant;couldstopadraywithmyshoulders.Asweet,unwontedmood,afeelingoflightsomehappy-go-luckinesstookpossessionofme.IfelltoobservingthepeopleImetandwhopassedme,toreadingtheplacardsonthewall,notedeventheimpressionofaglancethrownatmefromapassingtram-car,leteachbagatelle,eachtriflingincidentthatcrossedorvanishedfrommypathimpressme.
