Сестра Керри

Chapter XLV. Curious Shifts Of The Poor

           Hatswerealldrooping,agroupthatwouldillbecomeasecond-handHesterStreetbasementcollection.Trouserswereallwarpedandfrayedatthebottomandcoatswornandfaded.Intheglareofthestorelights,someofthefaceslookeddryandchalky;otherswereredwithblotchesandpuffedinthecheeksandundertheeyes;oneortwowererawbonedandremindedoneofrailroadhands.Afewspectatorscamenear,drawnbytheseeminglyconferringgroup,thenmoreandmore,andquicklytherewasapushing,gapingcrowd.Someoneinthelinebegantotalk.

           “Silence!”exclaimedthecaptain.“Now,then,gentlemen,thesemenarewithoutbeds.Theyhavetohavesomeplacetosleepto-night.Theycan’tlieoutinthestreets.Ineedtwelvecentstoputoneofthemtobed.Whowillgiveittome?”

           Noreply.

           “Well,we’llhavetowaithere,boys,untilsomeonedoes.Twelvecentsisn’tsoverymuchforoneman.”

           “Here’sfifteen,”exclaimedayoungman,peeringforwardwithstrainedeyes.“It’sallIcanafford.”

           “Allright.NowIhavefifteen.Stepoutoftheline,”andseizingonebytheshoulder,thecaptainmarchedhimoffalittlewayandstoodhimupalone.

           Comingback,heresumedhisplaceandbeganagain.

           “Ihavethreecentsleft.Thesemenmustbeputtobedsomehow.Thereare”—counting—“one,two,three,four,five,six,seven,eight,nine,ten,eleven,twelvemen.Ninecentsmorewillputthenextmantobed;givehimagood,comfortablebedforthenight.Igorightalongandlookafterthatmyself.

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