Дублинцы

           Onthemantelpieceofthislittleofficealittleleadenbattalionofcanisterswasdrawnupandonthetablebeforethewindowstoodfourorfivechinabowlswhichwereusuallyhalffullofablackliquid.FromthesebowlsMr.Kernantastedtea.Hetookamouthful,drewitup,saturatedhispalatewithitandthenspatitforthintothegrate.Thenhepausedtojudge.

           Mr.Power,amuchyoungerman,wasemployedintheRoyalIrishConstabularyOfficeinDublinCastle.Thearcofhissocialriseintersectedthearcofhisfriend’sdecline,butMr.Kernan’sdeclinewasmitigatedbythefactthatcertainofthosefriendswhohadknownhimathishighestpointofsuccessstillesteemedhimasacharacter.Mr.Powerwasoneofthesefriends.Hisinexplicabledebtswereabywordinhiscircle;hewasadebonairyoungman.

           ThecarhaltedbeforeasmallhouseontheGlasnevinroadandMr.Kernanwashelpedintothehouse.HiswifeputhimtobedwhileMr.Powersatdownstairsinthekitchenaskingthechildrenwheretheywenttoschoolandwhatbooktheywerein.Thechildren—twogirlsandaboy,consciousoftheirfatherhelplessnessandoftheirmother’sabsence,begansomehorseplaywithhim.Hewassurprisedattheirmannersandattheiraccents,andhisbrowgrewthoughtful.AfterawhileMrs.Kernanenteredthekitchen,exclaiming:

           “Suchasight!O,he’lldoforhimselfonedayandthat’stheholyallsofit.He’sbeendrinkingsinceFriday.”

           Mr.