Голод
Part IV
Theyallscreamedtogether,eventhechildren,andthegirlwhowantedtoexplainhowthewholedisturbancecommenced.IfIonlykeptquietitwouldallblowoversometime;itwouldsurelynotcometotheworstifIonlydidnotutteraword;andwhatwordafterallcouldIhavetosay?Wasitnotperhapswinteroutside,andfaradvancedintothenight,besides?Wasthatatimetostrikeablow,andshowonecouldholdone’sown?Nofollynow!...SoIsatstillandmadenoattempttoleavethehouse;Ineverevenblushedatkeepingsilent,neverfeltashamed,althoughIhadalmostbeenshownthedoor.Istaredcoolly,case-hardened,atthewallwhereChristhunginanoleograph,andheldmytongueobstinatelyduringallthelandlady’sattack.
"Well,ifitismeyouwanttogetquitof,ma’am,therewillbenothinginthewayasfarasIamconcerned,"saidoneofthecard-playersashestoodup.Theothercard-playersroseaswell.
"No,Ididn’tmeanyou—noryoueither,"repliedthelandladytothem."Ifthere’sanyneedto,IwillshowwellenoughwhoImean,ifthere’stheleastneedto,ifIknowmyselfrightly.Oh,itwillbeshownquickenoughwhoitis...."
Shetalkedwithpauses,gavemethesethrustsatshortintervals,andspunitouttomakeitclearerandclearerthatitwasmeshemeant."Quiet,"saidItomyself;"onlykeepquiet!"Shehadnotaskedmetogo—notexpressly,notinplainwords.Justnoputtingonsideonmypart—nountimelypride!Braveitout!...
