| 6:39a |
@@@@@But he forced these considerations awayHe
@@@@@But he forced these considerations awayHe would worry about the rest of it once they had crossed the mountainNow that was the only important problem
Red watched him for several minutes afterward, noticing every move with a dull hatredHe had never loathed any man so much as CroftAs Red picked at the breakfast ration of tinned ham and eggs, his stomach rebelledThe food was thick and tasteless; when he chewed there was a balance between his desire to swallow it and his desire to spit it outEach lumpful remained heavy and leaden for an interminable time in his mouthHe threw the can away at last, and sat staring at his feetHis stomach pulsed emptily, sickeningly
There were eight rations left: three cheeses, two ham and eggs, and three beef and pork loafsHe knew he would never eat them; they were merely an added load in his packHe took out the ration cartons, slit the tops off each with his knife and separated the candy and cigarettes from the food tins, the crackersHe was about to throw the food away when he realized that some of the men might want itHe thought of asking, but he had an image of passing from man to man with the cans in his hand, having them jeer at himAaah, fug 'em, he decided, it's none of their goddam business anywayHe threw the food into some weeds a few feet behind himFor a time he sat there, so enraged that his heart was beating powerfully, and then he relaxed and began to make up his packThat'll be lighter anyhow, he told himself, and his rage began againFug the Army anyhow, fug the goddam mother-fuggin ArmyThat stuff ain't fit for a pigHe was breathing very quickly once moreKill and be killed for this lousy goddam foodSo many images blurred in his mind, the mills where they stamped and pressured and cooked the food that went into the tins, the dull thwopping sound of a bullet striking a man, even Roth's shout
Aaah, fug the whole goddam m |
| 1:04p |
@@@@@But it was possible to part with
her,
@@@@@But it was possible to part with
her, because Susan remained to supply her placeSusan became the
stationary niece, delighted to be so; and equally well adapted for it
by a readiness of mind, and an inclination for usefulness, as Fanny
had been by sweetness of temper, and strong feelings of gratitude
Susan could never be sparedFirst as a comfort to Fanny, then as an
auxiliary, and last as her substitute, she was established at Mansfield,
with every appearance of equal permanencyHer more fearless disposition
and happier nerves made everything easy to her thereWith
quickness in understanding the tempers of those she had to deal
with, and no natural timidity to restrain any consequent wishes, she
was soon welcome and useful to all; and after Fanny’s removal succeeded
so naturally to her influence over the hourly comfort of her
aunt, as gradually to become, perhaps, the most beloved of the two
In her usefulness, in Fanny’s excellence, in William’s continued good
conduct and rising fame, and in the general well-doing and success
of the other members of the family, all assisting to advance each
other, and doing credit to his countenance and aid, Sir Thomas saw
repeated, and for ever repeated, reason to rejoice in what he had
done for them all, and acknowledge the advantages of early hardship
and discipline, and the consciousness of being born to struggle
and endure
With so much true merit and true love, and no want of fortune
and friends, the happiness of the married cousins must appear as
secure as earthly happiness can beEqually formed for domestic
life, and attached to country pleasures, their home was the home of
affection and comfort; and to complete the picture of good, the
acquisition of Mansfield living, by the death of DrGrant, occurred
just after they had been married long enough to begin to want an
increase of income, and feel their distance from the paternal abode
an inconvenience
On that event they removed to Mansfield; and the Parsonage there,
414
Mansfield Park
which, under each of its two former owners, Fanny had never been
able to approach but with some painful sensation of restraint or
alarm, soon grew as dear to her heart, and as thoroughly perfect in
her eyes, as everything else within the view and patronage of
Mansfield Park had long beenhis will be over soon, and then I can go home to TaraScarlett O
'Hara Hamilton Kennedy Butler stood alone, a few steps away from the
other mourners at Melanie Wilkes' burialIt was raining, and the
black-clad men and women held black umbrellas over their heads
They leaned on one another, the women weeping, sharing shelter and
griefScarlett shared her umbrella with no one, nor her griefThe
gusts of wind within the rain blew stinging cold wet rivulets under the
umbrella, down her neck, but she was unaware of themShe felt
nothing, she was numbed by lossShe would mourn later, when she
could
stand the painShe held it away from her, all pain, all feeling, all
thinkingExcept for the words that repeated again and again in her
mind, the words that promised healing from the pain to come and
strength to survive until she was healedThis will be over soon, and
then I can go home to Taraashes to ashes, dust to dust
The minister's voice penetrated the shell of numbness, the words
registeredNo! Scarlett cried silen |