Сестра Керри

Chapter XLV. Curious Shifts Of The Poor

           

           ThuswasHurstwoodinstalledintheBroadwayCentral,butnotforlong.Hewasinnoshapeormoodtodothescrubworkthatexistsaboutthefoundationofeveryhotel.Nothingbetteroffering,hewassettoaidthefireman,toworkaboutthebasement,todoanythingandeverythingthatmightoffer.Porters,cooks,firemen,clerks—allwereoverhim.Moreoverhisappearancedidnotpleasetheseindividuals—histemperwastoolonely—andtheymadeitdisagreeableforhim.

           Withthestolidityandindifferenceofdespair,however,heendureditall,sleepinginanatticattheroofofthehouse,eatingwhatthecookgavehim,acceptingafewdollarsaweek,whichhetriedtosave.Hisconstitutionwasinnoshapetoendure.

           OnedaythefollowingFebruaryhewassentonanerrandtoalargecoalcompany’soffice.Ithadbeensnowingandthawingandthestreetsweresloppy.Hesoakedhisshoesinhisprogressandcamebackfeelingdullandweary.Allthenextdayhefeltunusuallydepressedandsataboutasmuchaspossible,totheirritationofthosewhoadmiredenergyinothers.

           Intheafternoonsomeboxesweretobemovedtomakeroomfornewculinarysupplies.Hewasorderedtohandleatruck.Encounteringabigbox,hecouldnotliftit.

           “What’sthematterthere?”saidtheheadporter.“Can’tyouhandleit?”

           Hewasstrainingtoliftit,butnowhequit.

           “No,”hesaid,weakly.

           Themanlookedathimandsawthathewasdeathlypale.

           “Notsick,areyou?”heasked.

           “IthinkIam,”returnedHurstwood.

           “Well,you’dbettergositdown,then.”

           Thishedid,butsoongrewrapidlyworse.

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