1984

           Winstonturnedroundabruptly. Hehadsethisfeaturesintotheexpressionofquietoptimism whichitwasadvisabletowearwhenfacingthetelescreen. Hecrossedtheroomintothetinykitchen. ByleavingtheMinistryatthistimeofdayhehadsacrificedhislunchinthecanteen, andhewasawarethattherewasnofoodinthekitchen exceptahunkofdark-colouredbreadwhichhadgottobesavedfortomorrow’sbreakfast. HetookdownfromtheshelfabottleofcolourlessliquidwithaplainwhitelabelmarkedVICTORYGIN. Itgaveoffasickly,oilysmell,asofChineserice-spirit. Winstonpouredoutnearlyateacupful,nervedhimselfforashock,andgulpeditdownlikeadoseofmedicine. 

           Instantlyhisfaceturnedscarlet andthewaterranoutofhiseyes. Thestuffwaslikenitricacid,andmoreover, inswallowingitonehadthesensationofbeinghitonthebackoftheheadwitharubberclub. Thenextmoment,however,theburninginhisbellydieddown andtheworldbegantolookmorecheerful. HetookacigarettefromacrumpledpacketmarkedVICTORYCIGARETTESandincautiouslyhelditupright, whereuponthetobaccofelloutontothefloor. Withthenexthewasmoresuccessful. Hewentbacktotheliving-roomandsatdownatasmalltablethatstoodtotheleftofthetelescreen. Fromthetabledrawerhetookoutapenholder,abottleofink, andathick,quarto-sizedblankbookwitharedbackandamarbledcover. 

           Forsomereasonthetelescreenintheliving-roomwasinanunusualposition. Insteadofbeingplaced,aswasnormal,intheendwall, whereitcouldcommandthewholeroom, itwasinthelongerwall,oppositethewindow. ToonesideofittherewasashallowalcoveinwhichWinstonwasnowsitting, andwhich,whentheflatswerebuilt,hadprobablybeenintendedtoholdbookshelves.