Сестра Керри

Chapter XLV. Curious Shifts Of The Poor

           ItcrossedBroadwayfromouttheshadowofTwenty-sixthStreet,and,inahalting,circuitousway,arrivedclosetothewaitingfigure.Therewassomethingshamefacedordiffidentaboutthemovement,asiftheintentionweretoconcealanyideaofstoppinguntiltheverylastmoment.Thensuddenly,closetothesoldier,camethehalt.

           Thecaptainlookedinrecognition,buttherewasnoespecialgreeting.Thenewcomernoddedslightlyandmurmuredsomethinglikeonewhowaitsforgifts.Theothersimplymotionedtowardtheedgeofthewalk.

           “Standoverthere,”hesaid.

           Bythisthespellwasbroken.Evenwhilethesoldierresumedhisshort,solemnwalk,otherfiguresshuffledforward.Theydidnotsomuchasgreettheleader,butjoinedtheone,snifflingandhitchingandscrapingtheirfeet.

           “Cold,ain’tit?”

           “I’mgladwinter’sover.”

           “Looksasthoughitmightrain.”

           Themotleycompanyhadincreasedtoten.Oneortwokneweachotherandconversed.Othersstoodoffafewfeet,notwishingtobeinthecrowdandyetnotcountedout.Theywerepeevish,crusty,silent,eyingnothinginparticularandmovingtheirfeet.

           Therewouldhavebeentalkingsoon,butthesoldiergavethemnochance.Countingsufficienttobegin,hecameforward.

           “Beds,eh,allofyou?”

           Therewasageneralshuffleandmurmurofapproval.

           “Well,lineuphere.I’llseewhatIcando.Ihaven’tacentmyself.”

           Theyfellintoasortofbroken,raggedline.Onemightsee,now,someofthechiefcharacteristicsbycontrast.Therewasawoodenlegintheline.

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