Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 2
Bothontheoutwardandonthehomewardjourneyhemeasureddistancebythislandmark:andinhisimaginationhelivedthroughalongtrainofadventures,marvellousasthoseinthebookitself,towardsthecloseofwhichthereappearedanimageofhimself,grownolderandsadder,standinginamoonlitgardenwithMercedeswhohadsomanyyearsbeforeslightedhislove,andwithasadlyproudgestureofrefusal,saying:
—Madam,Inevereatmuscatelgrapes.
HebecametheallyofaboynamedAubreyMillsandfoundedwithhimagangofadventurersintheavenue.Aubreycarriedawhistledanglingfromhisbuttonholeandabicyclelampattachedtohisbeltwhiletheothershadshortsticksthrustdaggerwisethroughtheirs.Stephen,whohadreadofNapoleon’splainstyleofdress,chosetoremainunadornedandtherebyheightenedforhimselfthepleasureoftakingcounselwithhislieutenantbeforegivingorders.Thegangmadeforaysintothegardensofoldmaidsorwentdowntothecastleandfoughtabattleontheshaggyweed-grownrocks,cominghomeafteritwearystragglerswiththestaleodoursoftheforeshoreintheirnostrilsandtherankoilsoftheseawrackupontheirhandsandintheirhair.
AubreyandStephenhadacommonmilkmanandoftentheydroveoutinthemilk-cartoCarrickmineswherethecowswereatgrass.Whilethemenweremilkingtheboyswouldtaketurnsinridingthetractablemareroundthefield.
