Голод
Part I
DidthescoundrelimaginethatIreallywasaspoorasIlooked?HadInotasgoodasbeguntowriteanarticleforhalf-a-sovereign?Besides,Ihadnofearwhateverforthefuture.Ihadmanyironsinthefire.WhatonearthbusinesswasitofanutterstrangerifIchosetostandhimadrinkonsuchalovelyday?Theman’slookannoyedme,andImadeupmymindtogivehimagooddressing-downbeforeIlefthim.Ithrewbackmyshoulders,andsaid:
"Mygoodfellow,youhaveadoptedamostunpleasanthabitofstaringataman’skneeswhenhegivesyouashilling."
Heleanthisheadbackagainstthewallandopenedhismouthwidely;somethingwasworkinginthatemptypateofhis,andheevidentlycametotheconclusionthatImeanttobesthiminsomeway,forhehandedmebackthemoney.Istampedonthepavement,and,swearingathim,toldhimtokeepit.DidheimagineIwasgoingtoallthattroublefornothing?Ifallcametoall,perhapsIowedhimthisshilling;Ihadjustrecollectedanolddebt;hewasstandingbeforeanhonestman,honourabletohisfinger-tips—inshort,themoneywashis.Oh,nothankswereneeded;ithadbeenapleasuretome.Good-bye!
Iwenton.AtlastIwasfreedfromthiswork-riddenplague,andIcouldgomywayinpeace.IturneddownPyleStreetagain,andstoppedbeforeagrocer’sshop.Thewholewindowwasfilledwitheatables,andIdecidedtogoinandgetsomethingtotakewithme.
