Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 1
—Toobad!Toobad!saiduncleCharles.
—What?criedMrDedalus.WerewetodeserthimatthebiddingoftheEnglishpeople?
—Hewasnolongerworthytolead,saidDante.Hewasapublicsinner.
—Weareallsinnersandblacksinners,saidMrCaseycoldly.
—WOEBETOTHEMANBYWHOMTHESCANDALCOMETH!saidMrsRiordan.ITWOULDBEBETTERFORHIMTHATAMILLSTONEWERETIEDABOUTHISNECKANDTHATHEWERECASTINTOTHEDEPTHSOFTHESEARATHERTHANTHATHESHOULDSCANDALIZEONEOFTHESE,MYLEASTLITTLEONES.ThatisthelanguageoftheHolyGhost.
—Andverybadlanguageifyouaskme,saidMrDedaluscoolly.
—Simon!Simon!saiduncleCharles.Theboy.
—Yes,yes,saidMrDedalus.Imeantaboutthe...Iwasthinkingaboutthebadlanguageoftherailwayporter.Wellnow,that’sallright.Here,Stephen,showmeyourplate,oldchap.Eatawaynow.Here.
HeheapedupthefoodonStephen’splateandserveduncleCharlesandMrCaseytolargepiecesofturkeyandsplashesofsauce.MrsDedaluswaseatinglittleandDantesatwithherhandsinherlap.Shewasredintheface.MrDedalusrootedwiththecarversattheendofthedishandsaid:
—There’satastybitherewecallthepope’snose.Ifanyladyorgentleman...
Heheldapieceoffowlupontheprongofthecarvingfork.Nobodyspoke.