Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           BythetimeourshipreachesIndiathefaminemaybeallover.”

           “Oneneedneverbeafraidofbeing’toolate’inthematterofhelpingthedestitute,”answeredPresley.“Unfortunately,theyarealwaysafixedquantity.’Thepooryehavealwayswithyou.’”

           “Howverycleverthatis,”saidMrs.Gerard.

           Mrs.Cedarquisttappedthetablewithherfaninmildapplause.

           “Brilliant,brilliant,”shemurmured,“epigrammatical.”

           “Honora,”saidMrs.Gerard,turningtoherdaughter,atthatmomentinconversationwiththelanguidLambert,“Honora,entends-tu,macherie,l’espritdenotrejeuneLamartine.”

           Mrs.Hoovenwenton,stumblingfromstreettostreet,holdingHildatoherbreast.Faminegnawedincessantlyatherstomach;walkthoughshemight,turnuponhertracksupanddownthestreets,backtotheavenueagain,incessantlyandrelentlesslythetorturedugintohervitals.Shewashungry,hungry,andifthewantoffoodharassedandrendedher,full-grownwomanthatshewas,whatmustitbeinthepoor,starvedstomachofherlittlegirl?Oh,forsomehelpinghandnow,oh,foronelittlemouthful,onelittlenibble!Food,food,allherwreckedbodyclamouredfornourishment;anythingtonumbthosegnawingteeth—anabandonedloaf,hard,mouldered;ahalf-eatenfruit,yes,eventherefuseofthegutter,eventhegarbageoftheashheap.Onshewent,peeringintodarkcorners,intotheareaways,anywhere,everywhere,watchingthesilentprowlingofcats,theintentrovingsofstraydogs.Butshewasgrowingweaker;thepainsandcrampsinherstomachreturned.