Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Amorelovelyspotshehadseldomseen.Nearathandwasabench,builtaroundthetrunkofthelargestliveoak,andhere,atlength,weakfromhunger,exhaustedtothelimitsofherendurance,despairing,abandoned,MinnaHoovensatdowntoenquireofherselfwhatnextshecoulddo.

           Butonceseated,thedemandsoftheanimal—soshecouldbelieve—becamemoreclamorous,moreinsistent.Toeat,torest,tobesafelyhousedagainstanothernight,aboveallelse,thesewerethethingsshecraved;andthecravingwithinhergrewsomightythatshecrispedherpoor,starvedhandsintolittlefists,inanagonyofdesire,whilethetearsranfromhereyes,andthesobsrosethickfromherbreastandstruggledandstrangledinherachingthroat.

           ButinafewmomentsMinnawasawarethatawoman,apparentlyofsomethirtyyearsofage,hadtwicepassedalongthewalkinfrontofthebenchwhereshesat,andnow,asshetookmorenoticeofher,sherememberedthatshehadseenherontheferry-boatcomingoverfromthecity.

           Thewomanwasgownedinsilk,tightlycorseted,andworeahatofratherostentatioussmartness.Minnabecameconvincedthatthepersonwaswatchingher,butbeforeshehadachancetoactuponthisconvictionshewassurprisedoutofallcountenancebythestrangercominguptowhereshesatandspeakingtoher.

           “Hereisacoincidence,”exclaimedthenew-comer,asshesatdown;“surelyyouaretheyounggirlwhosatoppositemeontheboat.StrangeIshouldcomeacrossyouagain.I’vehadyouinmindeversince.