the enormous expansion of American commerce, and the
Republic's future in the Pacific and in South America, and
wherever else the oppressed were groaning. The reason
for it was that he wanted to keep awake. He knew that
if he allowed himself to fall asleep he would begin to snore
loudly; and so he must listen -- he must be interested!
But he had eaten such a big dinner, and he was so ex~
hausted, and the hall was so warm, and his seat was so com~
fortable! The senator's gaunt form began to grow dim
and hazy, to tower before him and dance about, with figures
of exports and imports. Once his neighbor gave him a
savage poke in the ribs, and he sat up with a start and
tried to look innocent; but then he was at it again, and
men began to stare at him with annoyance, and to call out
in vexation. Finally one of them called a policeman, who
came and grabbed Jurgis by the collar, and jerked him to
his feet, bewildered and terrified. Some of the audience
turned to see the commotion, and Senator Spareshanks
faltered in his speech; but a voice shouted cheerily:
"We're just firing a bum! Go ahead, old sport!" And so
the crowd roared, and the senator smiled genially, and went
on; and in a few seconds poor Jurgis found himself landed
out in the rain, with a kick and a string of curses.

He got into the shelter of a doorway and took stock of
himself. He was not hurt, and he was not arrested -- more
than he had any right to expect. He swore at himself and
his luck for a while, and then turned his thoughts to prac~
tical matters. He had no money, and no place to sleep;
he must begin begging again.

He went out, hunching his shoulders together and shiver~
ing at the touch of the icy rain. Coming down the street
toward him was a lady, well-dressed, and protected by an
umbrella; and he turned and walked beside her. "Please,
ma'am," he began, "could you lend me the price of a night's
lodging? I'm a poor working-man--"

Then, suddenly, he stopped short. By the light of a
street lamp he had caught sight of the lady's face. He
knew her.

It was Alena Jasaityte, who had been the belle of his

[[341]]

p340 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p341w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p342

v?