Дублинцы
The Dead
FreddyMalinsalwayscamelate,buttheywonderedwhatcouldbekeepingGabriel:andthatwaswhatbroughtthemeverytwominutestothebanisterstoaskLilyhadGabrielorFreddycome.
“O,Mr.Conroy,”saidLilytoGabrielwhensheopenedthedoorforhim,“MissKateandMissJuliathoughtyouwerenevercoming.Good-night,Mrs.Conroy.”
“I’llengagetheydid,”saidGabriel,“buttheyforgetthatmywifeheretakesthreemortalhourstodressherself.”
Hestoodonthemat,scrapingthesnowfromhisgoloshes,whileLilyledhiswifetothefootofthestairsandcalledout:
“MissKate,here’sMrs.Conroy.”
KateandJuliacametoddlingdownthedarkstairsatonce.BothofthemkissedGabriel’swife,saidshemustbeperishedalive,andaskedwasGabrielwithher.
“HereIamasrightasthemail,AuntKate!Goonup.I’llfollow,”calledoutGabrielfromthedark.
Hecontinuedscrapinghisfeetvigorouslywhilethethreewomenwentupstairs,laughing,totheladies’dressing-room.Alightfringeofsnowlaylikeacapeontheshouldersofhisovercoatandliketoecapsonthetoesofhisgoloshes;and,asthebuttonsofhisovercoatslippedwithasqueakingnoisethroughthesnow-stiffenedfrieze,acold,fragrantairfromout-of-doorsescapedfromcrevicesandfolds.
“Isitsnowingagain,Mr.Conroy?”askedLily.
