Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VIII
Vasesofelegantforms,madeofshimmeringglass,bowedandcourtesiedtowardher.Glassbulbstookgracefulandvaryingshapesbeforehervision,nowroundingintoglobes,nowevolvingintohour-glasses,nowtwistingintopretzel-shapedconvolutions.
“Mammy,I’mhungry,”insistedHilda,passingherhandsoverherface.Mrs.Hoovenstartedandwoke.ItwasFridayevening.Alreadythestreetlampswerebeinglit.
“Gome,den,leedlegirl,”shesaid,risingandtakingHilda’shand.“Gome,den,wegovindsubber,hey?”
Sheissuedfromtheparkandtookacrossstreet,directlyawayfromthelocalitywhereshehadbeggedthepreviousdays.Shehadhadnosuccessthereoflate.Shewouldtrysomeotherquarterofthetown.Afterawearywalk,shecameoutuponVanNessAvenue,nearitsjunctionwithMarketStreet.Sheturnedintotheavenue,andwentontowardtheBay,painfullytraversingblockafterblock,beggingofallwhomshemet(forshenolongermadeanydistinctionamongthepassers-by).
“Say,say,den,bleasehellupaboorwomun.”
“Mammy,mammy,I’mhungry.”
ItwasFridaynight,betweensevenandeight.Thegreatdesertedavenuewasalreadydark.Aseafogwasscuddingoverhead,andbydegreesdescendinglower.Thewarmthwasofthemeagerest,andthestreetlamps,birdsoffireincagesofglass,flutteredanddancedintheprolongedgustsofthetradewindthatthreshedandwelteredinthecitystreetsfromofftheocean.
Presleyenteredthedining-roomoftheGerardmansionwithlittleMissGerardonhisarm.Theotherguestshadprecededthem—CedarquistwithMrs.
