Голод
Part I
IstartwithsurpriseasInoteonegoodthingafteranother,andtellmyselfthatthisisthebestthingIhaveeverread.Myheadswimswithasenseofsatisfaction;delightinflatesme;Igrowgrandiose.
Iweighmywritinginmyhand,andvalueit,atalooseguess,forfiveshillingsonthespot.
Itcouldneverenteranyone’sheadtochafferaboutfiveshillings;onthecontrary,gettingitforhalf-a-sovereignmightbeconsidereddirt-cheap,consideringthequalityofthething.
Ihadnointentionofturningoffsuchspecialworkgratis.AsfarasIwasaware,onedidnotpickupstoriesofthatkindonthewayside,andIdecidedonhalf-a-sovereign.
Theroombrightenedandbrightened.Ithrewaglancetowardsthedoor,andcoulddistinguishwithoutparticulartroubletheskeleton-likelettersofMissAndersen’swinding-sheetadvertisementtotherightofit.Itwasalsoagoodwhilesincetheclockhasstruckseven.
Iroseandcametoastandstillinthemiddleofthefloor.Everythingwellconsidered,Mrs.Gundersen’swarningcameratheropportunely.Thiswas,properlyspeaking,nofitroomforme:therewereonlycommonenoughgreencurtainsatthewindows,andneitherwerethereanypegstoomanyonthewall.Thepoorlittlerocking-chairoverinthecornerwasinrealityamereattemptatarocking-chair;withthesmallestsenseofhumour,onemighteasilysplitone’ssideswithlaughteratit.
