Голод
Part IV
IfIknewmyselfaright,Iwasquitecapableofcompletingmydramaduringthecourseofthenight,and,beforeeightdayshadflown,Iwouldhavebroughtthisyoungwomantoherknees—withallhercharms,ha,ha!withallhercharms....
"Good-bye,"Imuttered,shortly;but"Missy"heldmeback.Hequeried:
"Butwhatdoyoudoalldaynow?"
"Do?Iwrite,naturally.WhatelseshouldIdo?IsitnotthatIliveby?Forthemoment,Iamworkingatagreatdrama,’TheSignoftheCross.’ThemetakenfromtheMiddleAges."
"ByJove!"exclaimed"Missy,"seriously."Well,ifyousucceedwiththat,why...."
"Ihavenogreatanxietyonthatscore,"Ireplied."Ineightdays’timeorso,Ithinkyouandallthefolkswillhaveheardalittlemoreofme."
WiththatIlefthim.
WhenIgothomeIappliedatoncetomylandlady,andrequestedalamp.Itwasoftheutmostimportancetometogetthislamp;Iwouldnotgotobedtonight;mydramawasraginginmybrain,andIhopedsosurelytobeabletowriteagoodportionofitbeforemorning.Iputforwardmyrequestveryhumblytoher,asIhadnoticedthatshemadeadissatisfiedfaceonmyre-enteringthesitting-room.IsaidthatIhadalmostcompletedaremarkabledrama,onlyacoupleofsceneswerewanting;andIhintedthatitmightbeproducedinsometheatreoranother,innotime.Ifshewouldonlyjustrendermethisgreatservicenow....
Butmadamhadnolamp.