Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 2
Hedidnotknowwheretoseekitorhow,butapremonitionwhichledhimontoldhimthatthisimagewould,withoutanyovertactofhis,encounterhim.Theywouldmeetquietlyasiftheyhadknowneachotherandhadmadetheirtryst,perhapsatoneofthegatesorinsomemoresecretplace.Theywouldbealone,surroundedbydarknessandsilence:andinthatmomentofsupremetendernesshewouldbetransfigured.
Hewouldfadeintosomethingimpalpableunderhereyesandtheninamomenthewouldbetransfigured.Weaknessandtimidityandinexperiencewouldfallfromhiminthatmagicmoment.
***
Twogreatyellowcaravanshadhaltedonemorningbeforethedoorandmenhadcometrampingintothehousetodismantleit.Thefurniturehadbeenhustledoutthroughthefrontgardenwhichwasstrewnwithwispsofstrawandropeendsandintothehugevansatthegate.Whenallhadbeensafelystowedthevanshadsetoffnoisilydowntheavenue:andfromthewindowoftherailwaycarriage,inwhichhehadsatwithhisred-eyedmother,StephenhadseenthemlumberingalongtheMerrionRoad.
TheparlourfirewouldnotdrawthateveningandMrDedalusrestedthepokeragainstthebarsofthegratetoattracttheflame.UncleCharlesdozedinacornerofthehalffurnisheduncarpetedroomandnearhimthefamilyportraitsleanedagainstthewall.Thelamponthetableshedaweaklightovertheboardedfloor,muddiedbythefeetofthevan-men.
