Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Whatwastobecomeofher?Whatwasshetodo,wherewasshetogo?Unanswerable,grimquestions,andnowshenolongerhadherselftofearfor.Hermotherandthebaby,littleHilda,bothofthemequallyunabletolookafterthemselves,whatwastobecomeofthem,whereweretheygone?Lost,lost,allofthem,herselfaswell.Butsheralliedherself,asshewalkedalong.Theideaofherstarving,ofhermotherandHildastarving,wasoutofallreason.Ofcourse,itwouldnotcometothat,ofcoursenot.Itwasnotthusthatstarvationcame.Somethingwouldhappen,ofcourse,itwould—intime.Butmeanwhile,meanwhile,howtogetthroughthisapproachingnight,andthenextfewdays.Thatwasthethingtothinkofjustnow.

           Thesuddennessofitallwaswhatmostunnervedher.Duringallthenineteenyearsofherlife,shehadneverknownwhatitmeanttoshiftforherself.Herfatherhadalwayssufficedforthefamily;hehadtakencareofher,then,allofasudden,herfatherhadbeenkilled,hermothersnatchedfromher.Thenallofasuddentherewasnohelpanywhere.Thenallofasuddenaterriblevoicedemandedofher,“Nowjustwhatcanyoudotokeepyourselfalive?”Lifefacedher;shelookedthehugestoneimagesquarelyinthelustrelesseyes.

           Itwasnearlytwilight.Minna,forthesakeofavoidingobservation—foritseemedtoherthatnowathousandpryingglancesfollowedher—assumedamatter-of-factdemeanour,andbegantowalkbrisklytowardthebusinessquarterofthetown.