Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Hoovenwasbynomeansanoldwoman,buthardworkhadagedher.Shenolongerhadanyclaimtogoodlooks.Shenolongertookmuchinterestinherpersonalappearance.AtthetimeofherevictionfromtheCastroStreetboarding-house,sheworeafadedblackbonnet,garnishedwithfadedartificialflowersofdirtypink.Aplaidshawlwasabouthershoulders.ButthisdayofmisfortunehadsetMrs.Hoovenadriftinevenworseconditionthanherdaughter.Herpurse,containingamiserablehandfulofdimesandnickels,wasinhertrunk,andhertrunkwasinthehandsofthelandlady.Minnahadbeenallowedsuchreprieveasherthirty-fivecentswouldpurchase.ThedestitutionofMrs.Hoovenandherlittlegirlhadbegunfromtheverymomentofhereviction.

           WhileshewaitedforMinna,watchingeverystreetcarandeveryapproachingpedestrian,apolicemanappeared,askedwhatshedid,and,receivingnosatisfactoryreply,promptlymovedheron.

           Minnahadhadlittleassuranceinfacingthelifestruggleofthecity.Mrs.Hoovenhadabsolutelynone.Inher,grief,distress,thepinchofpoverty,and,aboveall,thenamelessfearoftheturbulent,fiercelifeofthestreets,hadproducedanumbness,anembruted,sodden,silent,speechlessconditionofdazedmind,andclogged,unintelligentspeech.Shewasdumb,bewildered,stupid,animatedbutbyasingleimpulse.Sheclungtolife,andtothelifeofherlittledaughterHilda,withtheblindtenacityofpurposeofadrowningcat.

           Thus,whenorderedtomoveonbytheofficer,shehadsilentlyobeyed,notevenattemptingtoexplainhersituation.