Oh, dear me; yes, I can wait for 'em. It isn't
his money I care for! I've not got enough to pay for hair oil. Yes, he's
leaving me in a jolly fix! Look here, d'you want to know how matters
stand? Here goes then: it's all owing to your brother that I'm going out
to earn twenty-five louis with another man."
At these words his head spun, and he barred her egress. He cried; he
besought her not to go, clasping his hands together and blurting out:
"Oh no! Oh no!"
"I want to, I do," she said. "Have you the money?"
No, he had not got the money. He would have given his life to have
the money! Never before had he felt so miserable, so useless, so very
childish. All his wretched being was shaken with weeping and gave proof
of such heavy suffering that at last she noticed it and grew kind. She
pushed him away softly.
"Come, my pet, let me pass; I must. Be reasonable. You're a baby boy,
and it was very nice for a week, but nowadays I must look after my own
affairs. Just think it over a bit. Now your brother's a man; what I'm
saying doesn't apply to him. Oh, please do me a favor; it's no good
telling him all this. He needn't know where I'm going. I always let out
too much when I'm in a rage.
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