Pagina 529 di 896

Not before dark night did the men and women come back to the

children, wailing and breadless. Then, the miserable bakers'

shops were beset by long files of them, patiently waiting to buy

bad bread; and while they waited with stomachs faint and empty,

they beguiled the time by embracing one another on the triumphs

of the day, and achieving them again in gossip. Gradually, these

strings of ragged people shortened and frayed away; and then poor

lights began to shine in high windows, and slender fires were

made in the streets, at which neighbours cooked in common,

afterwards supping at their doors.