Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
—Heleftherquickly,fearingthatherintimacymightturntojibingandwishingtobeoutofthewaybeforesheofferedherwaretoanother,atouristfromEnglandorastudentofTrinity.GraftonStreet,alongwhichhewalked,prolongedthatmomentofdiscouragedpoverty.IntheroadwayattheheadofthestreetaslabwassettothememoryofWolfeToneandherememberedhavingbeenpresentwithhisfatheratitslaying.Herememberedwithbitternessthatsceneoftawdrytribute.TherewerefourFrenchdelegatesinabrakeandone,aplumpsmilingyoungman,held,wedgedonastick,acardonwhichwereprintedthewords:VIVEL’IRLANDE!
ButthetreesinStephen’sGreenwerefragrantofrainandtherain-soddenearthgaveforthitsmortalodour,afaintincenserisingupwardthroughthemouldfrommanyhearts.ThesoulofthegallantvenalcitywhichhiseldershadtoldhimofhadshrunkwithtimetoafaintmortalodourrisingfromtheearthandheknewthatinamomentwhenheenteredthesombrecollegehewouldbeconsciousofacorruptionotherthanthatofBuckEganandBurnchapelWhaley.
ItwastoolatetogoupstairstotheFrenchclass.Hecrossedthehallandtookthecorridortotheleftwhichledtothephysicstheatre.Thecorridorwasdarkandsilentbutnotunwatchful.
