Хвилі

           Nowhowcomfortingitistowatchthelightscomingoutinthebedroomsofsmallshopkeepersontheothersideoftheriver.Thereisone--thereisanother.Whatdoyouthinktheirtakingshavebeentoday?Onlyjustenoughtopayfortherent,forlightandfoodandthechildren’sclothing.Butjustenough.Whatasenseofthetolerablenessoflifethelightsinthebedroomsofsmallshopkeepersgiveus!Saturdaycomes,andthereisjustenoughtopayperhapsforseatsatthePictures.Perhapsbeforetheyputoutthelighttheygointothelittlegardenandlookatthegiantrabbitcouchedinitswoodenhut.ThatistherabbittheywillhaveforSundaydinner.Thentheyputoutthelight.Thentheysleep.Andforthousandsofpeoplesleepisnothingbutwarmthandsilenceandonemoment’ssportwithsomefantasticdream."Ihavepostedmyletter,"thegreengrocerthinks,"totheSundaynewspaper.SupposeIwinfivehundredpoundsinthefootballcompetition?Andweshallkilltherabbit.Lifeispleasant.Lifeisgood.Ihavepostedtheletter.Weshallkilltherabbit."Andhesleeps.

           ’Thatgoeson.Listen.Thereisasoundliketheknockingofrailwaytrucksinasiding.Thatisthehappyconcatenationofoneeventfollowinganotherinourlives.Knock,knock,knock.Must,must,must.Mustgo,mustsleep,mustwake,mustgetup--sober,mercifulwordwhichwepretendtorevile,whichwepresstighttoourhearts,withoutwhichweshouldbeundone.