Голод
Part III
Awomanisstandingatthecountermakingpurchases;severalsmallparcelsindifferentsortsofpaperarelyinginfrontofher.Theshopman,whoknowsme,andknowswhatIusuallybuy,leavesthewoman,andpackswithoutmuchadoaloafinapieceofpaperandshovesitovertome.
"No,thankyou,itwasreallyacandleIwantedthisevening,"Isay.Isayitveryquietlyandhumbly,inordernottovexhimandspoilmychanceofgettingwhatIwant.
Myanswerconfuseshim;heturnsquitecrossatmyunexpectedwords;itwasthefirsttimeIhadeverdemandedanythingbutaloaffromhim.
"Wellthen,youmustwaitawhile,"hesaysatlast,andbusieshimselfwiththewoman’sparcelsagain.
Shereceivesherwaresandpaysforthem—-giveshimaflorin,outofwhichshegetsthechange,andgoesout.Nowtheshop-boyandIarealone.Hesays:
"Soitwasacandleyouwanted,eh?"Hetearsopenapackage,andtakesoneoutforme.Helooksatme,andIlookathim;Ican’tgetmyrequestovermylips.
"Ohyes,that’strue;youpaid,though!"hesayssuddenly.HesimplyassertsthatIhadpaid.Iheardeveryword,andhebeginstocountsomesilveroutofthetill,coinaftercoin,shiningstoutpieces.Hegivesmebackchangeforacrown.
"Muchobliged,"hesays.
NowIstandandlookatthesepiecesofmoneyforasecond.Iamconscioussomethingiswrongsomewhere.
