His brothers, onthe contrary, were early objects of
fear to him.
One had a long black cigar betweenhis lips. You
tell me, Betty darling, you help me, youre older . In the life around the
perambulator certainchanges took place. Between the two of you Im nothing but a
punch-ball. But the good-lookingpiece his companion was only mildly tipsy, and did
not shrink fromparley. Next in favour stood his comforter though with this he could,
onoccasion, pick a quarrel.
Day for day, the sun beat on the hard-bakedground.
No sun fell on that side of the street, and theplant looked as unwholesome as
himself.
Both flights of stairs endedin landings the size of
a goodly room.
The idea of going out had been invented only to
annoy him. Thedark mass of the sea, at flood, lay tranquil, slothfully lapping
theshingle.
He was sick also severaltimes later on; Henriette
was in and out of bed with him during thenight.
The hawker, too drunk to argue,leaned against the
wall and stuttered irrelevancies. Grandmother left her job early; Father
camestraight home from work.
Come on, lets make for the usual, said the
boy.
Between the two of you Im nothing but a punch-ball.
Peterles mother, while waiting for a pan of milk to boil, drew a chairto the
table.
And Peterles mother forgot Peterle over him; for
Willi wasthe apple of her eye.
With the aid of a neighbour she got the
perambulator down the stairs, andlaid Peterle in it. The little fair girls reply had
an unlooked-for vehemence. About this time Peterles mother went out to dance. Day
for day, the sun beat on the hard-bakedground. But at this last appeal she
melted;and gathering the young girl to her breast, she held her fast.
Shesonly got to let it hang at the corners, and you
reek, you drip withguilt. And when you sneer I hate you more than any oneon earth.
With the aid of a neighbour she got the perambulator down the stairs, andlaid
Peterle in it. Silently the intruders roseand moved away.
Forsky he had the dingy ceiling of the room, on
which the flies walkedupside down.
She hadnt come there todance with little boys.
Above these danced, in millions,the giant Rhine-mosquitoes. They left before anybody
else; there was nothing to stay for. When Peterle woke and cried,Henriette snatched
him from his bed and cuddled him to her. To her cares ensued a period of sated
repose.
She pointed with her thumb over her shoulder,
wasting no words.