Голод
Part III
Idonotdoittoawakehiscompassion,buttomortifymyself,placemyself,asitwere,onthepillory.Icouldhaveflungmyselfdowninthestreetandbeggedhimtowalkoverme,treadonmyface.Idon’tevenbidhimgood-evening.
Perhapsthe"Commandor"guessesthatsomethingisamisswithme.Heslackenshispacealittle,andIsay,inordertostophim,"Iwouldhavecalleduponyoulongagowithsomething,butnothinghascomeyet!"
"Indeed?"herepliesinaninterrogativetone."Youhaven’tgotitfinished,then?"
"No,itdidn’tgetfinished."
Myeyesbythistimearefilledwithtearsathisfriendliness,andIcoughwithabitterefforttoregainmycomposure.The"Commandor"tweakshisnoseandlooksatme.
"Haveyouanythingtoliveoninthemeantime?"hequestions.
"No,"Ireply."Ihaven’tthateither;Ihaven’teatenanythingtoday,but...."
"TheLordpreserveyou,man,itwillneverdoforyoutogoandstarveyourselftodeath,"heexclaims,feelinginhispocket.
Thiscausesafeelingofshametoawakeinme,andIstaggerovertothewallandholdontoit.Iseehimfingerinhispurse,andhehandsmehalf-a-sovereign.
Hemakesnofussaboutit,simplygivesmehalf-a-sovereign,reiteratingatthesametimethatitwouldneverdotoletmestarvetodeath.Istammeredanobjectionanddidnottakeitallatonce.Itisshamefulofmeto...itwasreallytoomuch....
