Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 2
Inthevestryaplumpfresh-facedjesuitandanelderlyman,inshabbyblueclothes,weredabblinginacaseofpaintsandchalks.Theboyswhohadbeenpaintedwalkedaboutorstoodstillawkwardly,touchingtheirfacesinagingerlyfashionwiththeirfurtivefingertips.Inthemiddleofthevestryayoungjesuit,whowasthenonavisittothecollege,stoodrockinghimselfrhythmicallyfromthetipsofhistoestohisheelsandbackagain,hishandsthrustwellforwardintohisside-pockets.Hissmallheadsetoffwithglossyredcurlsandhisnewlyshavenfaceagreedwellwiththespotlessdecencyofhissoutaneandwithhisspotlessshoes.
Ashewatchedthisswayingformandtriedtoreadforhimselfthelegendofthepriest’smockingsmiletherecameintoStephen’smemoryasayingwhichhehadheardfromhisfatherbeforehehadbeensenttoClongowes,thatyoucouldalwaystellajesuitbythestyleofhisclothes.Atthesamemomenthethoughthesawalikenessbetweenhisfather’smindandthatofthissmilingwell-dressedpriest:andhewasawareofsomedesecrationofthepriest’sofficeorofthevestryitselfwhosesilencewasnowroutedbyloudtalkandjokinganditsairpungentwiththesmellsofthegas-jetsandthegrease.
Whilehisforeheadwasbeingwrinkledandhisjawspaintedblackandbluebytheelderlyman,helisteneddistractedlytothevoiceoftheplumpyoungjesuitwhichbadehimspeakupandmakehispointsclearly.
