Голод
Part I
IspentalongtimeinMarketStreet;satonsteps,stoleintodoorways,andwhenanyoneapproached,stoodandstaredabsentlyintotheshopswherepeoplebustledaboutwithwaresormoney.AtlastIfoundmyselfashelteredplace,behindadealhoarding,betweenthechurchandthebazaar.
No;Icouldn’tgooutintothewoodsagainthisevening.Thingsmusttaketheircourse.Ihadnotstrengthenoughtogo,anditwassuchanendlesswaythere.IwouldkillthenightasbestIcould,andremainwhereIwas;ifitgotalltoocold,well,Icouldwalkroundthechurch.Iwouldnotinanycaseworrymyselfanymoreaboutthat,andIleantbackanddozed.
Thenoisearoundmediminished;theshopsclosed.Thestepsofthepedestrianssoundedmoreandmorerarely,andinallthewindowsaboutthelightswentout.Iopenedmyeyes,andbecameawareofafigurestandinginfrontofme.Theflashofshiningbuttonstoldmeitwasapoliceman,thoughIcouldnotseetheman’sface.
"Good-night,"hesaid.
"Good-night,"Iansweredandgotafraid.
"Wheredoyoulive?"hequeried.
Iname,fromhabit,andwithoutthought,myoldaddress,thelittleattic.
Hestoodforawhile.
"HaveIdoneanythingwrong?"Iaskedanxiously.
"No,notatall!"hereplied;"butyouhadperhapsbetterbegettinghomenow;it’scoldlyinghere."
"Ay,that’strue;Ifeelitisalittlechilly.
