Дублинцы

A Mother

           Shenoticedthatheworehissoftbrownhatcarelesslyonthesideofhisheadandthathisaccentwasflat.Heheldaprogrammeinhishand,and,whilehewastalkingtoher,hechewedoneendofitintoamoistpulp.Heseemedtobeardisappointmentslightly.Mr.Holohancameintothedressingroomeveryfewminuteswithreportsfromthebox-office.Theartistestalkedamongthemselvesnervously,glancedfromtimetotimeatthemirrorandrolledandunrolledtheirmusic.Whenitwasnearlyhalf-pasteight,thefewpeopleinthehallbegantoexpresstheirdesiretobeentertained.Mr.Fitzpatrickcamein,smiledvacantlyattheroom,andsaid:

           “Wellnow,ladiesandgentlemen.Isupposewe’dbetteropentheball.”

           Mrs.Kearneyrewardedhisveryflatfinalsyllablewithaquickstareofcontempt,andthensaidtoherdaughterencouragingly:

           “Areyouready,dear?”

           Whenshehadanopportunity,shecalledMr.Holohanasideandaskedhimtotellherwhatitmeant.Mr.Holohandidnotknowwhatitmeant.Hesaidthatthecommitteehadmadeamistakeinarrangingforfourconcerts:fourwastoomany.

           “Andtheartistes!”saidMrs.Kearney.“Ofcoursetheyaredoingtheirbest,butreallytheyarenotgood.”

           Mr.Holohanadmittedthattheartisteswerenogoodbutthecommittee,hesaid,haddecidedtoletthefirstthreeconcertsgoastheypleasedandreserveallthetalentforSaturdaynight.Mrs.

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