Martin Eden

his room he heard the slosh of water, a sharp exclamation, and a resounding smack as his sister visited her irritation upon one of her numerous progeny. The squall of the child went through him lik

al. Here it was all mate

e in the same large way that he lived life in general. He put a quarter in the youngster's hand and held him in his arms a moment, soothing his s

shed face from the wash

It's just like you, no idea of the value

y. "My money'll take care of itself. If you

nd more baffling. It was the hard work, the many children, and the nagging of her husband, he decided, that had changed her. It came to him, in a flash of fancy, that h

sed. Of all her wandering brood of brothers he had always been her favori

er massive waist and kissed her wet steamy lips. The tears welled into her eyes-not so much from strength of feeling as f

to get up early for the washing. Now get along with you and get out of the house early.

when he returned from voyages or departed on voyages. But this kiss had tasted soapsuds, and the lips, he had noticed, were flabby. There had been no quick, vigorous lip-pressure such as should accompany any kiss. Hers was the kiss of a tired woman who had been tired so long that she had forgotten how to kiss. He remembered her as a girl, before her marriage, when she would dance with the best, all night, after a hard day's work at the laundry, and think n

look in his eyes. Jim was a plumber's apprentice whose weak chin and hedonistic temperament, coupl

ipped dolefully into the cold, half-cooked oa

by the utter squalidness of it all. Ruth

us giggle. "I was loaded right to the neck.

f nature with him to pay heed to whoever talk

, an' if that Temescal bunch comes, there'll be a rough-house. I don't care, though

attempted to wash the

know J

shook h

you to her, only you'd win her. I don't see what the girls see in you, ho

tin answered uninterestedly. The bre

he other asserted warm

ith her. Never danced with

it was all off. Of course you didn't mean nothin' by it, but it settled me for keeps. Wouldn't look

didn't

e pole." Jim looked at him admiring

about 'em," w

you don't care about th

will do, but with me I guess it's different. I never have c

he fellers put on the gloves. There was a peach from West Oakland. They called 'm 'The Rat.'

kland," Mar

the

his plate aw

e to-night?" the ot

nk not," h

tle, ever become worthy of her? He was appalled at the problem confronting him, weighted down by the incubus of his working-class station. Everything reached out to hold him down-his sister, his sister's house and family, Jim the apprentice, everybody he knew, every tie of life. Existence did not taste good in his mouth. Up to then he had accepted existence, as he had lived it with all about him

told him that the reference department was upstairs. He did not know enough to ask the man at the desk, and began his adventures in the philosophy alcove. He had heard of book philosophy, but had not imagined there had been so much written about it. The high, bulging shelves of heavy tomes humbled him and at the same time stimulated him. Here was work for the vigor of his brai

ever master it all? Later, he remembered that there were other men, many men, who had mastered it; and he

ation. He would quit drinking, work up, and become a captain. Ruth seemed very near to him in that moment. As a captain, he could marry her (if she would have him). And if she wouldn't, well-he would live a good life among men, because of Her, and he would quit drinking anyway. Then he remembered the underwriters and the owners, the two masters a captain must serve, either of wh

n you call? was the way he worded it to himself. But when he found the right shelf, he sought vainly for the answer. He was appalled at the vast edifice of etiquette, and lost himself in the mazes of visiting-card conduct between person

ted?" the man at the desk

wered. "You have a

d be glad to see you here

answered. "And

at? he asked himself as

and straight and awkwardly, until he forgot himself in his t