Портрет художника в юности

           Thegrowthandknowledgeoftwoyearsofboyhoodstoodbetweenthenandnow,forbiddingsuchanoutlet:andalldaythestreamofgloomytendernesswithinhimhadstartedforthandreturneduponitselfindarkcoursesandeddies,wearyinghimintheenduntilthepleasantryoftheprefectandthepaintedlittleboyhaddrawnfromhimamovementofimpatience.

           —Soyoumayaswelladmit,Heronwenton,thatwe’vefairlyfoundyououtthistime.Youcan’tplaythesaintonmeanymore,that’sonesurefive.

           Asoftpealofmirthlesslaughterescapedfromhislipsand,bendingdownasbefore,hestruckStephenlightlyacrossthecalfofthelegwithhiscane,asifinjestingreproof.

           Stephen’smomentofangerhadalreadypassed.Hewasneitherflatterednorconfused,butsimplywishedthebantertoend.Hescarcelyresentedwhathadseemedtohimasillyindelicatenessforheknewthattheadventureinhismindstoodinnodangerfromthesewords:andhisfacemirroredhisrival’sfalsesmile.

           —Admit!repeatedHeron,strikinghimagainwithhiscaneacrossthecalfoftheleg.

           Thestrokewasplayfulbutnotsolightlygivenasthefirstonehadbeen.Stephenfelttheskintingleandglowslightlyandalmostpainlessly;and,bowingsubmissively,asiftomeethiscompanion’sjestingmood,begantorecitetheCONFITEOR.Theepisodeendedwell,forbothHeronandWallislaughedindulgentlyattheirreverence.