Портрет художника в юности

           Thefellowslookedthereandthensaid:

           —Whyhim?

           —Isheinit?

           Athyloweredhisvoiceandsaid:

           —Doyouknowwhythosefellowsscut?Iwilltellyoubutyoumustnotletonyouknow.

           —Tellus,Athy.Goon.Youmightifyouknow.

           Hepausedforamomentandthensaidmysteriously:

           —TheywerecaughtwithSimonMoonanandTuskerBoyleinthesquareonenight.

           Thefellowslookedathimandasked:

           —Caught?

           —Whatdoing?

           Athysaid:

           —Smugging.

           Allthefellowsweresilent:andAthysaid:

           —Andthat’swhy.

           Stephenlookedatthefacesofthefellowsbuttheywerealllookingacrosstheplayground.Hewantedtoasksomebodyaboutit.Whatdidthatmeanaboutthesmugginginthesquare?Whydidthefivefellowsoutofthehigherlinerunawayforthat?Itwasajoke,hethought.SimonMoonanhadniceclothesandonenighthehadshownhimaballofcreamysweetsthatthefellowsofthefootballfifteenhadrolleddowntohimalongthecarpetinthemiddleoftherefectorywhenhewasatthedoor.ItwasthenightofthematchagainsttheBectiveRangers;andtheballwasmadejustlikearedandgreenappleonlyitopenedanditwasfullofthecreamysweets.