I shrugged myshoulders, and went into the shop. I reflected that French paper was bad, andthat, foiled of my purpose, I need not burden myself with a purchase that I didnot need. I asked for something I knew could not be provided, and in a minutecame out into the street.

"Did youget what you wanted?" he asked.

"No."

We walked on insilence, and then came to a place where several streets met. I stopped at thecurb.

"Which waydo you go?" I enquired.

"Your way," he smiled.

"I'm goinghome. "

"I'll comealong with you and smoke a pipe. "

"You mightwait for an invitation, " I retorted frigidly.

"I wouldif I thought there was any chance of getting one. "

"Do yousee that wall in front of you?" I said, pointing.

"Yes."

"In thatcase I should have thought you could see also that I don't want your company."

"I vaguelysuspected it, I confess. "

I could nothelp a chuckle. It is one of the defects of my character that I cannotaltogether dislike anyone who makes me laugh. But I pulled myself together.

我耸了耸肩膀，便走进文具店去。我想到法国纸并不好，既然我原来的打算已经落空，自然也就用不着买一些我不需要的东西增加负担了。于是我问了一两样他们准不会有的东西，一分钟以后就走出来了。

“买到你要买的东西了吗？”他问。

“没有。”

我们又一声不响地往前走，最后走到一处几条路交叉的路口。我在马路边上停下来。

“你往哪边走？”我问他。

“同你走一条路。”

“我回家。”

“我到你那里去抽一斗烟。”

“你总得等人请你吧。”我冷冷地说。

“要是我知道有被邀请的可能我就等着了。”

“你看到前面那堵墙了吗？”我问，向前面指了一下。

“看到了。”

“要是你还有这种眼力，我想你也就会看到我并不欢迎你了。”

“说老实话，我猜到了这一点。”

我噗哧地一声笑了。我不能讨厌一个能惹我发笑的人，这也许是我性格上的一个弱点。但是我马上就绷起脸来。