Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Whatwithyournameandyourideas—AreyouIrishatall?
—ComewithmenowtotheofficeofarmsandIwillshowyouthetreeofmyfamily,saidStephen.
—Thenbeoneofus,saidDavin.Whydon’tyoulearnIrish?Whydidyoudropoutoftheleagueclassafterthefirstlesson?
—Youknowonereasonwhy,answeredStephen.Davintosshisheadandlaughed.
—Oh,comenow,hesaid.IsitonaccountofthatcertainyoungladyandFatherMoran?Butthat’sallinyourownmind,Stevie.Theywereonlytalkingandlaughing.
StephenpausedandlaidafriendlyhanduponDavin’sshoulder.
—Doyouremember,hesaid,whenwekneweachotherfirst?Thefirstmorningwemetyouaskedmetoshowyouthewaytothematriculationclass,puttingaverystrongstressonthefirstsyllable.Youremember?Thenyouusedtoaddressthejesuitsasfather,youremember?Iaskmyselfaboutyou:ISHEAINNOCENTASHISSPEECH?
—I’masimpleperson,saidDavin.Youknowthat.WhenyoutoldmethatnightinHarcourtStreetthosethingsaboutyourprivatelife,honesttoGod,Stevie,Iwasnotabletoeatmydinner.Iwasquitebad.Iwasawakealongtimethatnight.Whydidyoutellmethosethings?
—Thanks,saidStephen.YoumeanIamamonster.
—No,saidDavin.ButIwishyouhadnottoldme.
AtidebegantosurgebeneaththecalmsurfaceofStephen’sfriendliness.