Сестра Керри

Chapter XLV. Curious Shifts Of The Poor

           Whenallbuttwentydollarsofhismoneywasgone,hemovedtoafifteen-centlodging-houseintheBowery,wheretherewasabarelounging-roomfilledwithtablesandbenchesaswellassomechairs.Herehispreferencewastoclosehiseyesanddreamofotherdays,ahabitwhichgrewuponhim.Itwasnotsleepatfirst,butamentalhearkeningbacktoscenesandincidentsinhisChicagolife.Asthepresentbecamedarker,thepastgrewbrighter,andallthatconcerneditstoodinrelief.

           Hewasunconsciousofjusthowmuchthishabithadholdofhimuntilonedayhefoundhislipsrepeatinganoldanswerhehadmadetooneofhisfriends.TheywereinFitzgeraldandMoy’s.Itwasasifhestoodinthedoorofhiselegantlittleoffice,comfortablydressed,talkingtoSagarMorrisonaboutthevalueofSouthChicagorealestateinwhichthelatterwasabouttoinvest.

           “Howwouldyouliketocomeinonthatwithme?”heheardMorrisonsay.

           “Notme,”heanswered,justashehadyearsbefore.“Ihavemyhandsfullnow.”

           Themovementofhislipsarousedhim.Hewonderedwhetherhehadreallyspoken.Thenexttimehenoticedanythingofthesorthereallydidtalk.

           “Whydon’tyoujump,youbloodyfool?”hewassaying.“Jump!”

           ItwasafunnyEnglishstoryhewastellingtoacompanyofactors.Evenashisvoicerecalledhim,hewassmiling.Acrustyoldcodger,sittingnearby,seemeddisturbed;atleast,hestaredinamostpointedway.Hurstwoodstraightenedup.Thehumourofthememoryfledinaninstantandhefeltashamed.Forrelief,helefthischairandstrolledoutintothestreets.

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