Дублинцы
Grace
“Ifhedoesn’tlikeit,”hesaidbluntly,“hecan...dotheotherthing.I’lljusttellhimmylittletaleofwoe.I’mnotsuchabadfellow——”
Mr.Cunninghamintervenedpromptly.
“We’llallrenouncethedevil,”hesaid,“together,notforgettinghisworksandpomps.”
“Getbehindme,Satan!”saidMr.Fogarty,laughingandlookingattheothers.
Mr.Powersaidnothing.Hefeltcompletelyout-generalled.Butapleasedexpressionflickeredacrosshisface.
“Allwehavetodo,”saidMr.Cunningham,“istostandupwithlightedcandlesinourhandsandrenewourbaptismalvows.”
“O,don’tforgetthecandle,Tom,”saidMr.M’Coy,“whateveryoudo.”
“What?”saidMr.Kernan.“MustIhaveacandle?”
“Oyes,”saidMr.Cunningham.
“No,damnitall,”saidMr.Kernansensibly,“Idrawthelinethere.I’lldothejobrightenough.I’lldotheretreatbusinessandconfession,and...allthatbusiness.But...nocandles!No,damnitall,Ibarthecandles!”
Heshookhisheadwithfarcicalgravity.
“Listentothat!”saidhiswife.
“Ibarthecandles,”saidMr.Kernan,consciousofhavingcreatedaneffectonhisaudienceandcontinuingtoshakehisheadtoandfro.“Ibarthemagic-lanternbusiness.”
Everyonelaughedheartily.
