Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Hestrucktheflagsagainandtitteredwhilehisheadtrembledwithaslightnervousmovement.ThetallconsumptivestudentandDixonandO’KeeffewerespeakinginIrishanddidnotanswerhim.Then,turningtoCranly,hesaid:
—Goodevening,particularlytoyou.
Hemovedtheumbrellainindicationandtitteredagain.Cranly,whowasstillchewingthefig,answeredwithloudmovementsofhisjaws.
—Good?Yes.Itisagoodevening.
Thesquatstudentlookedathimseriouslyandshookhisumbrellagentlyandreprovingly.
—Icansee,hesaid,thatyouareabouttomakeobviousremarks.
—Um,Cranlyanswered,holdingoutwhatremainedofthehalfchewedfigandjerkingittowardsthesquatstudent’smouthinsignthatheshouldeat.
Thesquatstudentdidnoteatitbut,indulginghisspecialhumour,saidgravely,stilltitteringandproddinghisphrasewithhisumbrella:
—Doyouintendthat?
Hebrokeoff,pointedbluntlytothemunchedpulpofthefig,andsaidloudly:
—Ialludetothat.
Um,Cranlysaidasbefore.
—Doyouintendthatnow,thesquatstudentsaid,asIPSOFACTOor,letussay,assotospeak?
Dixonturnedasidefromhisgroup,saying:
—Gogginswaswaitingforyou,Glynn.HehasgoneroundtotheAdelphitolookforyouandMoynihan.