Сестра Керри

Chapter XLV. Curious Shifts Of The Poor

           Hewonderedwhatitcouldbeandturnedback.

           Therewasthecaptaincurtlypleadingasbefore.Heheardwithastonishmentandasenseofrelieftheoft-repeatedwords:“Thesemenmusthaveabed.”Beforehimwasthelineofunfortunateswhosebedswereyettobehad,andseeinganewcomerquietlyedgeupandtakeapositionattheendoftheline,hedecidedtodolikewise.Whatusetocontend?Hewaswearyto-night.Itwasasimplewayoutofonedifficulty,atleast.To-morrow,maybe,hewoulddobetter.

           Backofhim,wheresomeofthosewerewhosebedsweresafe,arelaxedairwasapparent.Thestrainofuncertaintybeingremoved,heheardthemtalkingwithmoderatefreedomandsomeleaningtowardsociability.Politics,religion,thestateofthegovernment,somenewspapersensations,andthemorenotoriousfactstheworldover,foundmouthpiecesandauditorsthere.Crackedandhuskyvoicespronouncedforciblyuponoddmatters.Vagueandramblingobservationsweremadeinreply.

           Thereweresquints,andleers,andsomedull,ox-likestaresfromthosewhoweretoodullortoowearytoconverse.

           Standingtells.Hurstwoodbecamemorewearywaiting.Hethoughtheshoulddropsoonandshiftedrestlesslyfromonefoottotheother.Atlasthisturncame.Themanaheadhadbeenpaidforandgonetotheblessedlineofsuccess.Hewasnowfirst,andalreadythecaptainwastalkingforhim.

           “Twelvecents,gentlemen—twelvecentsputsthismantobed.Hewouldn’tstandhereinthecoldifhehadanyplacetogo.”

           Hurstwoodswallowedsomethingthatrosetohisthroat.Hungerandweaknesshadmadeacowardofhim.

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