scarlet. She was beginning to breathe hard again. Jurgis
made not a sound.

"That was two months ago. Then he wanted me to
come -- to that house. He wanted me to stay there. He
said all of us -- that we would not have to work. He
made me come there -- in the evenings. I told you --
you thought I was at the factory. Then -- one night
it snowed, and I couldn't get back. And last night --
the cars were stopped. It was such a little thing -- to
ruin us all. I tried to walk, but I couldn't. I didn't
want you to know. It would have -- it would have been
all right. We could have gone on -- just the same -- you
need never have known about it. He was getting tired
of me -- he would have let me alone soon. I am going to
have a baby -- I am getting ugly. He told me that --
twice, he told me, last night. He kicked me -- last night --
too. And now you will kill him -- you -- you will kill
him -- and we shall die."

All this she had said without a quiver; she lay still as
death, not an eyelid moving. And Jurgis, too, said not
a word. He lifted himself by the bed, and stood up. He
did not stop for another glance at her, but went to the
door and opened it. He did not see Elzbieta, crouching
terrified in the corner. He went out, hatless, leaving the
street door open behind him. The instant his feet were
on the sidewalk he broke into a run.

He ran like one possessed, blindly, furiously, looking
neither to the right nor left. He was on Ashland Avenue
before exhaustion compelled him to slow down, and then,
noticing a car, he made a dart for it and drew himself
aboard. His eyes were wild and his hair flying, and he
was breathing hoarsely, like a wounded bull; but the
people on the car did not notice this particularly -- per~
haps it seemed natural to them that a man who smelt as
Jurgis smelt should exhibit an aspect to correspond.
They began to give way before him as usual. The con~
ductor took his nickel gingerly, with the tips of his fingers,
and then left him with the platform to himself. Jurgis

[[180]]

p179 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p180w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p181

v?