英语散文:饥饿

“我没有钱用了，请你付几元钱的版税给我好吗？”

趁着店里没有买主的时候，我这样含羞着地轻声问那位管账的。

“不能，版税一年只能结算两次，现在还不到时候，我怎好付给你呢？”

“我等不到结算版税的时候了，今天非预支几元不可。我如果不到万不得已的时候，也决不会催讨的。你不信，我连回去搭电车的钱都没有，来的时候也是跑路的。”

饥饿之火在我的腹内燃烧着，我忘记了什么是羞耻，这样诉苦时，好像一点也不觉得难为情。但对方只是冷冷地一笑，似乎并不同情我，倒是一个小伙计对我很好，他说：

“你多等一会儿吧，买你的书的人一定不少，等下收进多少钱，你就通通拿去好了。”

[12] The cashier cast an angry sidelong glance at the young clerk, but he had to keep silent in my presence and worked his abacus with a vengeance.

[13] I volunteered to serve as a temporary clerk, ready to hand the book in person to any young customer who wanted to buy it. They often had no idea that I was the author of the book. Some didn't like the way I did the wrapping and looked somewhat displeased. The young clerk was about to tell a customer who I was when I immediately stopped him by tipping him a wink. The young man was confused and, after looking me up and down for a while, walked off in sulky silence.

[I4] To my great surprise, I got as much as five dollars towards evening. On my way home, I travelled first class in a streetcar instead of third class. The moment I stepped into it, chin up and chest out, the conductor barked pointing to the front compartment, "Third class in the front!" Judging by the way I was dressed, he must have thought I was too poor to travel first class. I quickly showed him the fiver in my hand and demanded by way of a protest,

[15] "Hey, give me my change!"

[16] He was silent, lowering his head.

[17] A young man sitting beside me happened to be reading my The Diary of a Woman Soldier. He boldly recommended me the book and advised me to go and buy a copy for myself. I replied.

[18] "I don't like this book because I don't think it's good for a woman to be a soldier."

[19] He was much annoyed at my remark and called me a diehard.

[20] "A 20th century woman shouldn't go against the trend of the times!" said he angrily.