Голод
Part IV
Ha,ha!—acheesewithclovesandpepperinit;uponmyword,acheeseinwhich,toputthematterplainly,onecouldbreedmaggots.Asfarasthatridiculouscheeseisconcerned,itmighthappentothecleverestfellowintheworldtobepuzzledoverit!Why,thesmellofthecheesewasenoughtofinishaman;...andImadethegreatestfunofthisandallotherDutchcheeses....No;setmetoreckonupsomethingreallyeatable,saidI—setme,ifyoulike,atfive-sixteenthsofgooddairybutter.Thatisanothermatter.
Ilaughedfeverishlyatmyownwhim,andfounditpeculiarlydiverting.Therewaspositivelynolongeranythingthematterwithme.Iwasingoodform—was,sotosay,stillinthebestofform;Ihadalevelhead,nothingwaswantingthere,Godbepraisedandthanked!MymirthroseinmeasureasIpacedthefloorandcommunedwithmyself.Ilaughedaloud,andfeltamazinglyglad.Besides,itreallyseemed,too,asifIonlyneededthislittlehappyhour,thismomentofairyrapture,withoutacareonanyside,togetmyheadintoworkingorderoncemore.
Iseatedmyselfatthetable,andsettoworkatmyallegory;itprogressedswimmingly,betterthanithaddoneforalongtime;notveryfast,’tistrue,butitseemedtomethatwhatIdidwasaltogetherfirst-rate.Iworked,too,forthespaceofanhourwithoutgettingtired.
IamsittingworkingatamostcrucialpointinthisAllegoryofaConflagrationinaBookshop.