old suitcase

7/27/2019 Old Suitcase

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Lement turned to the right and held out his right hand to say goodbye, so that

had both of them silently taken it for granted that the old man would go on livingon the seat opposite. It was bright enough, the darkness outside made it appear as

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

talking about the price of goods. "They're commercial travelers," Raban thought and,too," Raban answered, leaning out of the door, which he had opened, holding on to the

used to tell us the most incredible stories of the Russian Revolution. For instance,the reflection of his stable lantern jumping through the puddles at his feet. Irritably he

a short thread through the eye of a needle.

fans of puddle water formed, with a rushing sound, behind the turning wheels; it was"Then it's really better for you to go. I was only thinking. . . Anyway I couldn't

86one. If a stick or the metal-covered corner of a suitcase stuck out, then the owner

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

slammed down on the counter the ticket he had been asked for and the change. Nowrailings into the street, crossed it, leapt through the station entrance, after a while

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

go with you today, as I'm sleepy, I forgot to tell you that. And now I shall say goodbye,says, that need not be a disadvantage at all. One will spend more time in the rooms

"Yes, that could be done -- but it wouldn't be very nice if I didn't go -- and I'mbegan an explanation: listen here, he said, he had been playing cards with Lebeda and

should certainly feel much better. If the scenery does turn out to be boring, as Lement"But your friend hasn't been betrayed after all!" cried his father, emphasizing

impossible for him to take a look outside then, still, he did not mean to abuse anyone

for I don't want to go through the wet park with you, as I should like to drop in atGillemann's, after all. It's a quarter to six, so not too late, after all, for paying calls on

the point with stabs of his forefinger. "I've been representing him here on the spot."done and, his eyes starting in his head, bit his tongue back, only too late, till the pain

shouted at in a muffled voice, began to pull, and the water on top of the bus, now set

only has to send the maid into the others' apartments, where they are sitting over ano discussion beforehand either, for all will be expected to get together quite easily if

On his left, at the window, two gentlemen were sitting opposite each other,his father had clean changes of underwear. He had not yet explicitly discussed with his

own future establishment. It almost looked, on closer inspection, as if the care he

would move. Raban could hear the noise from the platform even when he had shut thethey had just been getting on fine when the train came. It would really have been

saw many people's backs, and the backs of their heads, and between them thesocks, and sat up straight. Then he heard someone from the station shouting: "Hi!" if

any rate seem to me that the whole enterprise had begun, and if later, after the mistakeeach time putting the suitcase on the step above and then following himself,and nodded and asked him questions. If you think back you're bound to remember. He

"If at least," Raban thought, "I were to get into a wrong train. Then it would atGeorg knelt down at once beside his father, in the old man's weary face he saw

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

booking clerk looked out, said it was really high time, took the bank note, andreason one mustn't miss it. But if there is no such sight to be seen, then there will be

you're answering me be you still my living son -- what else was left to me, in my backWrapped in the canvas of two sacks that had been cut up, the driver came over,

you."

have offended him even with a single word. I did refuse to spend the evening in town,carriage door and sat down on the last little free bit of a light-brown wooden seat. He

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


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

everyone!"come over here and that you're only hanging back of your own accord. Don't be too

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

"Adieu." Raban said.between the shafts. Raban rubbed his feet thoroughly on the seat, pulled on clean

PagePage

porter who was walking nearby hurried him through a glass door onto the platform.

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

From a little distance Lement then called back: "I say, Eduard, can you hearmany a windowpane -- all were shut right up to the top -- a hissing arc lamp hung at

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

For one isn't at all sure even of acquaintances of long standing. Wasn't Lement nice topeople you know fairly well. Addio. Well, a good journey, and remember me to

letter or books and are delighted by this news. Well, it is not difficult to protect oneself

and since he found no guard, he climbed up the steps of the nearest coach by himself,tired, yes, I'll go all right. If a telegram came, they'd get a fright, into the bargain. --

supporting himself on his umbrella with one hand, and on the handle of the suitcase"You comedian!" Georg could not resist the retort, realized at once the harm

back if I want to, for I shall have no one there whom I could pay calls on whenever Ino half-measures, and it was hard to see what business a gentleman like this could

who did not understand that. Apart from that, this place here was a filthy dump, and

and complain anywhere. Only just now Herr Pirkershofer -- if you please, that's theRaban tried to count his change quickly, thinking he ought to be getting more, but a

who could show me how his crops are doing or show me a quarry he is working there.junior assistant clerk -- had come in and had said he thought a small fair man had

darkness.

found the booking office, and had to knock for a while on the iron shutter. Then thealone in the old house. But now he made a quick, firm decision to take him into his

carefully taking off the woolen drawers he wore over his linen underpants and hisbride-to-be what arrangements should be made for his father in the future, for they

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

upon some time before. Then, however, one must look forward to it; for that verywould have his attention drawn to this. He would go over and straighten it. Raban also

His father leaned forward but did not topple. Since Georg did not come anyhad been cleared up, I were to arrive in this station again on my way back, then I

Pagenearer, as he had expected, he straightened himself again.suddenly, against all the usual practice, a larger expedition is considered right, for one

for the most part with loose reins that the driver guided the dripping horse. -- Couldagainst such invitations. And yet I don't know whether I shall be able to, for it is not so

"He has pockets even in his shirt!" said Georg to himself, and believed that with

there was anyone in the bus he might say so. "Yes, yes, and he would like to start now,slipping off his dressing gown as he stood feebly enough, "it'll soon be three years since

me? Do shut your umbrella; it stopped raining ages ago. I didn't have a chance to tellpalpitations, then he walked quickly along the park pool, went along a narrow, badly

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

would transfer their luggage, which lay in a narrow blue net over a seat, to anotherdistrict, there will probably be a walk all together to that ruin; it will have been agreed

The rain gushed down the back of his neck, inside his collar.


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These words went hissing through his mind."You have no friend in St. Petersburg. You've always been a leg-puller and you

"Just think back a bit, Father," said Georg, lifting his father from the chair and

easy as I imagine it now when I am still alone and can still do everything, can still goThere Raban looked around, while calling out "Thank you, thank you!" to the porter,

will appear to me. He came up and spoke to me and then walked with me, in spite ofthough the omnibus had black distempered walls and no glass in the windows. There

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

for a moment Raban was walking against Lement's outstretched arm.room, plagued by a disloyal staff, old to the marrow of my bones? And my son

84least twice I kept you from seeing him, although he was actually sitting with me in my

when he was on a business trip to Kiev and ran into a riot, and saw a priest on a

"Yes, of course I've been playing a comedy! A comedy! That's a goodbalcony who cut a broad cross in blood on the palm of his hand and held the hand up

made his knees give.

doorpost with his right hand, the left hand held open, close to his mouth.sprung?"

"That's quite easy, send a telegram."93

can't believe it."the fact that there was nothing he wanted to find out from me and that he himself still

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

himself for having been neglectful. It should have certainly been his duty to see thatlike, and no one with whom I could make more strenuous expeditions, no one there

room. I could quite well understand your dislike of him, my friend has his peculiarities.the pupils, overlarge, fixedly looking at him from the corners of the eyes.

me today? -- he explained some things to me, didn't he, and described everything as it

been wanting to go by the omnibus. Well, so he had at once come and asked, or hadn't"Georg," said his father in a low voice, without moving.

Meanwhile Georg had succeeded in lowering his father down again andand really never know for certain where all the others are, for if there is a ruin in the

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

but that was only natural, that can't have offended him, for he is a sensible person."passengers would change places, discussing these changes with each other, or they

meant to lavish there on his father might come too late.benches leaning against little trees, then went more slowly through an opening in the

The station clock struck, it was a quarter to six. Raban stopped because he hadabout eye level, and the many raindrops on the glass were white, often single onesconnection with your friend and I have your customers here in my pocket!"

And what for, where would we go, anyway?"Now he'll lean forward, thought Georg, what if he topples and smashes himself!

strutting through the world, finishing off deals that I had prepared for him, bursting

my friend came to see us last. I remember that you used not to like him very much. AtThe lantern was attached to the end of the shaft; the horse, having been

85stirring, dripped slowly through a crack into the carriage.

bethought himself and pushed his suitcase under his seat.

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

pipes and cigars, in one place drifting limply past the face of a girl. Often the


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

The road was perhaps hilly; there was surely mud flying up into the spokes;and appealed to the mob. You've told that story yourself once or twice since."

he at once come and asked?

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

old suitcase

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