Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
—Doyoumeanwomen?
—Iamnotspeakingofthat,Cranlysaidinacoldertone.Iaskyouifyoueverfeltlovetowardsanyoneoranything?
Stephenwalkedonbesidehisfriend,staringgloomilyatthefootpath.
—ItriedtoloveGod,hesaidatlength.ItseemsnowIfailed.Itisverydifficult.ItriedtounitemywillwiththewillofGodinstantbyinstant.InthatIdidnotalwaysfail.Icouldperhapsdothatstill—
Cranlycuthimshortbyasking:
—Hasyourmotherhadahappylife?
—HowdoIknow?Stephensaid.
—Howmanychildrenhadshe?
—Nineorten,Stephenanswered.Somedied.
—Wasyour...fatherCranlyinterruptedhimselfforaninstant,andthensaid:Idon’twanttopryintoyourfamilyaffairs.Butwasyourfatherwhatiscalledwell-to-do?Imean,whenyouweregrowingup?
—Yes,Stephensaid.
—Whatwashe?Cranlyaskedafterapause.
Stephenbegantoenumerategliblyhisfather’sattributes.
—Amedicalstudent,anoarsman,atenor,anamateuractor,ashoutingpolitician,asmalllandlord,asmallinvestor,adrinker,agoodfellow,astory-teller,somebody’ssecretary,somethinginadistillery,atax-gatherer,abankruptandatpresentapraiserofhisownpast.