第53章

Usuallythedentistwasslowinhismovements，butnowthealcoholhadawakenedinhimanape-likeagility。Hekepthissmalleyesuponher，andallatoncesenthisfistintothemiddleofherfacewiththesuddennessofarelaxedspring。

Besideherselfwithterror，Trinaturnedandfoughthimback；foughtforhermiserablelifewiththeexasperationandstrengthofaharassedcat；andwithsuchenergyandsuchwild，unnaturalforce，thatevenMcTeagueforthemomentdrewbackfromher。Butherresistancewastheonethingtodrivehimtothetopofhisfury。Hecamebackatheragain，hiseyesdrawntotwofinetwinklingpoints，andhisenormousfists，clenchedtilltheknuckleswhitened，raisedintheair。

Thenitbecameabominable。

Intheschoolroomoutside，behindthecoalscuttle，thecatlistenedtothesoundsofstampingandstrugglingandthemufflednoiseofblows，wildlyterrified，hiseyesbulginglikebrassknobs。Atlastthesoundsstoppedonasudden；

heheardnothingmore。ThenMcTeaguecameout，closingthedoor。Thecatfollowedhimwithdistendedeyesashecrossedtheroomanddisappearedthroughthestreetdoor。

Thedentistpausedforamomentonthesidewalk，lookingcarefullyupanddownthestreet。Itwasdesertedandquiet。Heturnedsharplytotherightandwentdownanarrowpassagethatledintothelittlecourtyardbehindtheschool。AcandlewasburninginTrina’sroom。Hewentupbytheoutsidestairwayandentered。

Thetrunkstoodlockedinonecorneroftheroom。Thedentisttookthelid-lifterfromthelittleoilstove，putitunderneaththelock-claspandwrencheditopen。

Gropingbeneathapileofdresseshefoundthechamois-skinbag，thelittlebrassmatch-box，and，attheverybottom，carefullythrustintoonecorner，thecanvassackcrammedtothemouthwithtwenty-dollargoldpieces。Heemptiedthechamois-skinbagandthematchboxintothepocketsofhistrousers。Butthecanvassackwastoobulkytohideabouthisclothes。“IguessI’lljustnaturallyhavetocarryYOU，“hemuttered。Heblewoutthecandle，closedthedoor，andgainedthestreetagain。

Thedentistcrossedthecity，goingbacktothemusicstore。

Itwasalittleaftereleveno’clock。Thenightwasmoonless，filledwithagraybluroffaintlightthatseemedtocomefromallquartersofthehorizonatonce。Fromtimetotimethereweresuddenexplosionsofasoutheastwindatthestreetcorners。McTeaguewenton，slantinghisheadagainstthegusts，tokeephiscapfromblowingoff，carryingthesackclosetohisside。Oncehelookedcriticallyatthesky。

“Ibetit’llrainto-morrow，“hemuttered，“ifthiswindworksroundtothesouth。“

Onceinhislittledenbehindthemusicstore，hewashedhishandsandforearms，andputonhisworkingclothes，blueoverallsandajumper，overcheaptrousersandvest。Thenhegottogetherhissmallbelongings——anoldcampaignhat，apairofboots，atinoftobacco，andapinchbeckbraceletwhichhehadfoundoneSundayinthePark，andwhichhebelievedtobevaluable。Hestrippedhisblanketfromhisbedandrolledupinitalltheseobjects，togetherwiththecanvassack，fasteningtherollwithahalfhitchsuchasminersuse，theinstinctsoftheold-timecar-boycomingbacktohiminhispresentconfusionofmind。Hechangedhispipeandhisknife——ahugejackknifewithayellowedbonehandle——tothepocketsofhisoveralls。

Thenatlasthestoodwithhishandonthedoor，holdingupthelampbeforeblowingitout，lookingabouttomakesurehewasreadytogo。Thewaveringlightwokehiscanary。Itstirredandbegantochitterfeebly，verysleepyandcrossatbeingawakened。McTeaguestarted，staringatit，andreflecting。