MS-WU-MSS008-2-47

[1442] face is towards the people that throng the streets at this
hour, their long day ended and the whole long evening before
them. [1443] The doors open and spew them out, each door its contingent.
[1444] For an instant they cluster in a daze, huddled on the sidewalk
or in the gutter, then set off singly on their appointed ways.

[1445] And even those who know themselves condemned, at the outset, to
the same direction, for the choice of directions at the outset
is not great, take leave of one another and part, but politely,
with some polite excuse, ot ^{[place = overwritten] r [place = supralinear] r} x ^{[place = overwritten] w}ithout a word, for they all know one
another's little ways.

[1446] And God help him who longs, for once, in
his recovered freedom, to walk a little way with a fellow-creature,
no matter which, unless of course by a merv ^{[place = overwritten] c}iful chance he stumble
on one in the same plight. [1447] Then they take a few paces happily side
by side, then part, each one muttering perhaps, Now there will be
no holding him.

[1448] At this hour then erotic craving accounts for the
majority of couples. But these are few compared to the solitaries
pressing forward through the throng, obstructing the access to
places of amusement, bowed over the parapets, propped against
vacant walls. [1449] But soon they come to the appointed place, at home or
at some other home, or abroad, as the saying is, in a public place,
or in a doorway in view of possible rain.

[1450] And the first to arrive
have seldom long to wait, for all hasten towards one another,
knowing how short the time in which to say all the things that lie
heavy on the heart and conscience and to do all the things they
have to do together, things one cannot do alone. [1451] So there they are
for a few hours in safety. [1452] Then the drowsiness, the little memorand-
um book with its little special pencil, the yawned g