Дублинцы
The Dead
”
TheraisinsandalmondsandfigsandapplesandorangesandchocolatesandsweetswerenowpassedaboutthetableandAuntJuliainvitedallthegueststohaveeitherportorsherry.AtfirstMr.BartellD’Arcyrefusedtotakeeitherbutoneofhisneighboursnudgedhimandwhisperedsomethingtohimuponwhichheallowedhisglasstobefilled.Graduallyasthelastglasseswerebeingfilledtheconversationceased.Apausefollowed,brokenonlybythenoiseofthewineandbyunsettlingsofchairs.TheMissesMorkan,allthree,lookeddownatthetablecloth.Someonecoughedonceortwiceandthenafewgentlemenpattedthetablegentlyasasignalforsilence.ThesilencecameandGabrielpushedbackhischair.
Thepattingatoncegrewlouderinencouragementandthenceasedaltogether.Gabrielleanedhistentremblingfingersonthetableclothandsmilednervouslyatthecompany.Meetingarowofupturnedfacesheraisedhiseyestothechandelier.Thepianowasplayingawaltztuneandhecouldheartheskirtssweepingagainstthedrawing-roomdoor.People,perhaps,werestandinginthesnowonthequayoutside,gazingupatthelightedwindowsandlisteningtothewaltzmusic.Theairwaspurethere.Inthedistancelaytheparkwherethetreeswereweightedwithsnow.TheWellingtonMonumentworeagleamingcapofsnowthatflashedwestwardoverthewhitefieldofFifteenAcres.
