He would report me as a criminal, my father would be told, perhaps even the police might come for me.
The terror of utter chaos menaced me, all that was ugly and dangerous was aligned against me.
The fact that I had not stolen at all did not count in the least.
I had sworn to it besides. O dear, O dear! I burst into tears.
I felt I must buy myself off. Despairingly I searched all my pockets. Not an apple, not a penknife, absolutely nothing.
All at once I thought of my watch. It was an old silver one which wouldn’t go. I wore it for no special reason.
It came down to me from my grandmother. I drew it out quickly.
“Kromer,” I said, “listen, you mustn’t give me away, that wouldn’t be nice of you.
Look here, I will give you my watch; I haven’t anything else, worse luck!
You can have it, it’s a silver one; the mechanism is good, there is one little thing wrong, that’s all, it needs repairing.”
He smiled and took the watch in his big hand. I looked at his hand and felt how coarse and hostile it was, how it grasped at my life and peace.
“It’s silver,” I said, timidly. “I wouldn’t give a straw for your silver and your old watch!” he said with deep scorn.
전체재생
다음페이지
문장검색