Портрет художника в юности

           Thenwhywashesenttothatplacewiththem?Buthisfatherhadtoldhimthathewouldbenostrangertherebecausehisgrandunclehadpresentedanaddresstotheliberatortherefiftyyearsbefore.Youcouldknowthepeopleofthattimebytheirolddress.Itseemedtohimasolemntime:andhewonderedifthatwasthetimewhenthefellowsinClongowesworebluecoatswithbrassbuttonsandyellowwaistcoatsandcapsofrabbitskinanddrankbeerlikegrown-uppeopleandkeptgreyhoundsoftheirowntocoursethehareswith.

           Helookedatthewindowandsawthatthedaylighthadgrownweaker.Therewouldbecloudygreylightovertheplaygrounds.Therewasnonoiseontheplaygrounds.TheclassmustbedoingthethemesorperhapsFatherArnallwasreadingoutofthebook.

           Itwasqueerthattheyhadnotgivenhimanymedicine.PerhapsBrotherMichaelwouldbringitbackwhenhecame.Theysaidyougotstinkingstufftodrinkwhenyouwereintheinfirmary.Buthefeltbetternowthanbefore.Itwouldbenicegettingbetterslowly.Youcouldgetabookthen.TherewasabookinthelibraryaboutHolland.Therewerelovelyforeignnamesinitandpicturesofstrangelookingcitiesandships.Itmadeyoufeelsohappy.

           Howpalethelightwasatthewindow!Butthatwasnice.Thefireroseandfellonthewall.Itwaslikewaves.Someonehadputcoalonandheheardvoices.Theyweretalking.Itwasthenoiseofthewaves.Orthewavesweretalkingamongthemselvesastheyroseandfell.