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for a moment Raban was walking against Lement's outstretched arm.

86they had just been getting on fine when the train came. It would really have been

lighted path between large shrubs, rushed into an open place with many empty

slammed down on the counter the ticket he had been asked for and the change. Noweasy as I imagine it now when I am still alone and can still do everything, can still go

doorpost with his right hand, the left hand held open, close to his mouth.Page

had both of them silently taken it for granted that the old man would go on living

was no need to think that there were wheels under the floor and in front the horse85

who did not understand that. Apart from that, this place here was a filthy dump, andnearer, as he had expected, he straightened himself again.

no discussion beforehand either, for all will be expected to get together quite easily if

for I don't want to go through the wet park with you, as I should like to drop in atmade his knees give.

and nodded and asked him questions. If you think back you're bound to remember. He

"You comedian!" Georg could not resist the retort, realized at once the harmwill appear to me. He came up and spoke to me and then walked with me, in spite of

should certainly feel much better. If the scenery does turn out to be boring, as Lementeveryone!"

stirring, dripped slowly through a crack into the carriage.come over here and that you're only hanging back of your own accord. Don't be too

expression! What other comfort was left to a poor old widower? Tell me -- and while

The rain gushed down the back of his neck, inside his collar.no half-measures, and it was hard to see what business a gentleman like this could

too," Raban answered, leaning out of the door, which he had opened, holding on to theFor one isn't at all sure even of acquaintances of long standing. Wasn't Lement nice to

been wanting to go by the omnibus. Well, so he had at once come and asked, or hadn't

railings into the street, crossed it, leapt through the station entrance, after a whileThese words went hissing through his mind.

porter who was walking nearby hurried him through a glass door onto the platform.have offended him even with a single word. I did refuse to spend the evening in town,

and complain anywhere. Only just now Herr Pirkershofer -- if you please, that's the

suddenly, against all the usual practice, a larger expedition is considered right, for onedone and, his eyes starting in his head, bit his tongue back, only too late, till the pain

the reflection of his stable lantern jumping through the puddles at his feet. Irritably he"Just think back a bit, Father," said Georg, lifting his father from the chair and

had been cleared up, I were to arrive in this station again on my way back, then Iused to tell us the most incredible stories of the Russian Revolution. For instance,the fact that there was nothing he wanted to find out from me and that he himself still

Gillemann's, after all. It's a quarter to six, so not too late, after all, for paying calls on"But your friend hasn't been betrayed after all!" cried his father, emphasizing

who could show me how his crops are doing or show me a quarry he is working there.

me? Do shut your umbrella; it stopped raining ages ago. I didn't have a chance to tellhis father had clean changes of underwear. He had not yet explicitly discussed with his

The station clock struck, it was a quarter to six. Raban stopped because he haddarkness.

108

84"Stay where you are, I don't need you! You think you have strength enough to

socks, and sat up straight. Then he heard someone from the station shouting: "Hi!" if

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"Georg," said his father in a low voice, without moving.From a little distance Lement then called back: "I say, Eduard, can you hear

with the other. The coach that he entered was brightly illuminated by the great

the point with stabs of his forefinger. "I've been representing him here on the spot."reason one mustn't miss it. But if there is no such sight to be seen, then there will be

room, plagued by a disloyal staff, old to the marrow of my bones? And my sonhimself for having been neglectful. It should have certainly been his duty to see that

haven't even shrunk from pulling my leg. How could you have a friend out there! I

the pupils, overlarge, fixedly looking at him from the corners of the eyes.back if I want to, for I shall have no one there whom I could pay calls on whenever I

PageMeanwhile Georg had succeeded in lowering his father down again and

"That's quite easy, send a telegram."

me today? -- he explained some things to me, didn't he, and described everything as itconnection with your friend and I have your customers here in my pocket!"

balcony who cut a broad cross in blood on the palm of his hand and held the hand up

slipping off his dressing gown as he stood feebly enough, "it'll soon be three years sincesprung?"

you're answering me be you still my living son -- what else was left to me, in my backand appealed to the mob. You've told that story yourself once or twice since."

passengers would change places, discussing these changes with each other, or theybetween the shafts. Raban rubbed his feet thoroughly on the seat, pulled on clean

And what for, where would we go, anyway?"

The road was perhaps hilly; there was surely mud flying up into the spokes;any rate seem to me that the whole enterprise had begun, and if later, after the mistake

against such invitations. And yet I don't know whether I shall be able to, for it is not soPage

each time putting the suitcase on the step above and then following himself,

meant to lavish there on his father might come too late.The lantern was attached to the end of the shaft; the horse, having been

"Adieu." Raban said.Georg knelt down at once beside his father, in the old man's weary face he saw

district, there will probably be a walk all together to that ruin; it will have been agreed

least twice I kept you from seeing him, although he was actually sitting with me in my"Yes, that could be done -- but it wouldn't be very nice if I didn't go -- and I'm

shouted at in a muffled voice, began to pull, and the water on top of the bus, now seton the seat opposite. It was bright enough, the darkness outside made it appear as

Pagewould have his attention drawn to this. He would go over and straighten it. Raban alsothough the omnibus had black distempered walls and no glass in the windows. There

palpitations, then he walked quickly along the park pool, went along a narrow, badlytired, yes, I'll go all right. If a telegram came, they'd get a fright, into the bargain. --

Raban tried to count his change quickly, thinking he ought to be getting more, but a

But then, later, you got on with him very well. I was proud because you listened to himPage

began an explanation: listen here, he said, he had been playing cards with Lebeda and"Yes, of course I've been playing a comedy! A comedy! That's a good

respectable businessman! Do you think I didn't love you, I, from whom you are

benches leaning against little trees, then went more slowly through an opening in theLement turned to the right and held out his right hand to say goodbye, so that

Raban did not answer, shut his umbrella, and the sky closed over him in pallid

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with triumphant glee, and stalking away from his father with the closed face of a

pipes and cigars, in one place drifting limply past the face of a girl. Often thesaw many people's backs, and the backs of their heads, and between them the

have here, and he would be getting there soon enough anyway, so that he need not go

when he was on a business trip to Kiev and ran into a riot, and saw a priest on afor the most part with loose reins that the driver guided the dripping horse. -- Could

There Raban looked around, while calling out "Thank you, thank you!" to the porter,says, that need not be a disadvantage at all. One will spend more time in the rooms

carefully taking off the woolen drawers he wore over his linen underpants and his

carriage door and sat down on the last little free bit of a light-brown wooden seat. Hemany a windowpane -- all were shut right up to the top -- a hissing arc lamp hung at

sure! I am still much the stronger of us two. All by myself I might have had to give way,you."

go with you today, as I'm sleepy, I forgot to tell you that. And now I shall say goodbye,

"He has pockets even in his shirt!" said Georg to himself, and believed that withalone in the old house. But now he made a quick, firm decision to take him into his

socks. The not particularly clean appearance of his underwear made him reproach

bride-to-be what arrangements should be made for his father in the future, for theyfound the booking office, and had to knock for a while on the iron shutter. Then the

like, and no one with whom I could make more strenuous expeditions, no one therebethought himself and pushed his suitcase under his seat.

letter or books and are delighted by this news. Well, it is not difficult to protect oneselfabout eye level, and the many raindrops on the glass were white, often single ones

would move. Raban could hear the noise from the platform even when he had shut the

and really never know for certain where all the others are, for if there is a ruin in theand since he found no guard, he climbed up the steps of the nearest coach by himself,

His father leaned forward but did not topple. Since Georg did not come anybut that was only natural, that can't have offended him, for he is a sensible person."

fans of puddle water formed, with a rushing sound, behind the turning wheels; it was

people you know fairly well. Addio. Well, a good journey, and remember me toroom. I could quite well understand your dislike of him, my friend has his peculiarities.

strutting through the world, finishing off deals that I had prepared for him, burstingonly has to send the maid into the others' apartments, where they are sitting over a

one. If a stick or the metal-covered corner of a suitcase stuck out, then the owner

booking clerk looked out, said it was really high time, took the bank note, andupon some time before. Then, however, one must look forward to it; for that very

would transfer their luggage, which lay in a narrow blue net over a seat, to anotherNow he'll lean forward, thought Georg, what if he topples and smashes himself!

there was anyone in the bus he might say so. "Yes, yes, and he would like to start now,"Then it's really better for you to go. I was only thinking. . . Anyway I couldn'tcan't believe it."

own future establishment. It almost looked, on closer inspection, as if the care he"You have no friend in St. Petersburg. You've always been a leg-puller and you

amount of light from the main hall of the station, in which it was standing; in front of

supporting himself on his umbrella with one hand, and on the handle of the suitcaseOn his left, at the window, two gentlemen were sitting opposite each other,

Wrapped in the canvas of two sacks that had been cut up, the driver came over,my friend came to see us last. I remember that you used not to like him very much. At

he at once come and asked?

impossible for him to take a look outside then, still, he did not mean to abuse anyone"If at least," Raban thought, "I were to get into a wrong train. Then it would at

had something else to do. But now all of a sudden he has gone away, and yet I can't

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a short thread through the eye of a needle.

talking about the price of goods. "They're commercial travelers," Raban thought and,junior assistant clerk -- had come in and had said he thought a small fair man had

upturned faces of people on the seat opposite. In some places smoke was curling from

but your mother has given me so much of her strength that I've established a fine