Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Butwhatislimbo?
—Puthimbackintotheperambulator,Cranly,O’Keeffecalledout.
CranlymadeaswiftsteptowardsTemple,halted,stampinghisfoot,cryingasiftoafowl:
—Hoosh!
Templemovedawaynimbly.
—Doyouknowwhatlimbois?hecried.DoyouknowwhatwecallanotionlikethatinRoscommon?
—Hoosh!Blastyou!Cranlycried,clappinghishands.
—Neithermyarsenormyelbow!Templecriedoutscornfully.Andthat’swhatIcalllimbo.
—Giveusthatstickhere,Cranlysaid.
HesnatchedtheashplantroughlyfromStephen’shandandsprangdownthesteps:butTemple,hearinghimmoveinpursuit,fledthroughthedusklikeawildcreature,nimbleandfleet-footed.Cranly’sheavybootswereheardloudlychargingacrossthequadrangleandthenreturningheavily,foiledandspurningthegravelateachstep.
HisstepwasangryandwithanangryabruptgesturehethrustthestickbackintoStephen’shand.Stephenfeltthathisangerhadanothercausebut,feigningpatience,touchedhisarmslightlyandsaidquietly:
—Cranly,ItoldyouIwantedtospeaktoyou.Comeaway.Cranlylookedathimforafewmomentsandasked:
—Now?
—Yes,now,Stephensaid.Wecan’tspeakhere.Comeaway.
Theycrossedthequadrangletogetherwithoutspeaking.