第196章

第196章hewalkedforsometimethroughalongnarrowcorridorwithoutfindinganyoneandwasjustgoingtocallout,whensuddenlyinadarkcornerbetweenanoldcupboardandthedoorhecaughtsightofastrangeobjectwhichseemedtobealive.hebentdownwiththecandleandsawalittlegirl,notmorethanfiveyearsold,shiveringandcrying,withherclothesaswetasasoakinghouse-flannel.shedidnotseemafraidofsvidrigailov,butlookedathimwithblankamazementoutofherbigblackeyes.nowandthenshesobbedaschildrendowhentheyhavebeencryingalongtime,butarebeginningtobecomforted.thechild’sfacewaspaleandtired,shewasnumbwithcold.“howcanshehavecomehere?shemusthavehiddenhereandnotsleptallnight.”hebeganquestioningher.thechildsuddenlybecominganimated,chatteredawayinherbabylanguage,somethingabout“mammy”andthat“mammywouldbeather,”andaboutsomecupthatshehad“bwoken.”thechildchatteredonwithoutstopping.hecouldonlyguessfromwhatshesaidthatshewasaneglectedchild,whosemother,probablyadrunkencook,intheserviceofthehotel,whippedandfrightenedher;thatthechildhadbrokenacupofhermother’sandwassofrightenedthatshehadrunawaytheeveningbefore,hadhiddenforalongwhilesomewhereoutsideintherain,atlasthadmadeherwayinhere,hiddenbehindthecupboardandspentthenightthere,cryingandtremblingfromthedamp,thedarknessandthefearthatshewouldbebadlybeatenforit.hetookherinhisarms,wentbacktohisroom,satheronthebed,andbeganundressingher.thetornshoeswhichshehadonherstockinglessfeetwereaswetasiftheyhadbeenstandinginapuddleallnight.whenhehadundressedher,heputheronthebed,coveredherupandwrappedherintheblanketfromherheaddownwards.shefellasleepatonce.thenhesankintodrearymusingagain.