Голод
Part I
Youwon’tfindabettertailorthanIsaksen—justsayIsentyou,that’sall!"
ThiswasreallyrathermorethanIcouldswallow.Whatdidhewanttopokehisnoseinmyaffairsfor?WasitanyconcernofhiswhichtailorIemployed?Thesightofthisempty-headeddandified"masher"embitteredme,andIremindedhimratherbrutallyoftenshillinghehadborrowedfromme.ButbeforehecouldreplyIregrettedthatIhadaskedforit.Igotashamedandavoidedmeetinghiseyes,and,asaladycamebyjustthen,Isteppedhastilyasidetoletherpass,andseizedtheopportunitytoproceedonmyway.
WhatshouldIdowithmyselfwhilstIwaited?Icouldnotvisitacafewithemptypockets,andIknewofnoacquaintancethatIcouldcallonatthistimeofday.Iwendedmywayinstinctivelyuptown,killedagooddealoftimebetweenthemarketplaceandtheGraendsen,readtheAftenpost,whichwasnewlypostedupontheboardoutsidetheoffice,tookaturndownCarlJohann,wheeledroundandwentstraightontoOurSaviour’sCemetery,whereIfoundaquietseatontheslopeneartheMortuaryChapel.
Isatthereincompletequietness,dozedinthedampair,mused,half-sleptandshivered.
Andtimepassed.Now,wasitcertainthatthestoryreallywasalittlemasterpieceofinspiredart?Godknowsifitmightnothaveitsfaultshereandthere.Allthingswellweighed,itwasnotcertainthatitwouldbeaccepted;no,simplynotevenaccepted.
