A QUARREL
109
' Where can she have gone ? ’ thought Nicky. ‘ Women have been given far too much freedom under the Soviet rule,’ said a voice from the farthest pencil-box on the left. ‘ She’ll drown herself,’ said a voice on the right. Meantime, Liza was angry and ran down the street, swallowing her tears. As she went on she grew calmer. ‘ It would be quite all right if only we had a table and two chairs,’ she thought, ‘ and, after all, a “ Primus ” would be useful.’ Then she felt hungry and remem bering her quarrel with Nicky she was furious again. She hated her husband. ‘ It’s simply disgusting ! ’ she said aloud as he hunger increased. She bought herself a sausage sand wich, and as she did not hke eating in the street, she went into a doorway and enjoyed it. When she had finished eating she wiped her mouth and brushed the crumbs from her coat. Then she felt better ; looked round and saw that she was standing on the steps of the Museum of Furniture. She did not feel hke going home, and she had nowhere else to go. She had twenty copecks in her pocket, so she decided to begin her independent hfe by visiting the Museum.
