Дублинцы
The Boarding House
Dublinissuchasmallcity:everyoneknowseveryoneelse’sbusiness.HefelthisheartleapwarmlyinhisthroatasheheardinhisexcitedimaginationoldMr.Leonardcallingoutinhisraspingvoice:“SendMr.Doranhere,please.”
Allhislongyearsofservicegonefornothing!Allhisindustryanddiligencethrownaway!Asayoungmanhehadsownhiswildoats,ofcourse;hehadboastedofhisfree-thinkinganddeniedtheexistenceofGodtohiscompanionsinpublic-houses.Butthatwasallpassedanddonewith...nearly.HestillboughtacopyofReynolds’sNewspapereveryweekbutheattendedtohisreligiousdutiesandfornine-tenthsoftheyearlivedaregularlife.Hehadmoneyenoughtosettledownon;itwasnotthat.Butthefamilywouldlookdownonher.Firstofalltherewasherdisreputablefatherandthenhermother’sboardinghousewasbeginningtogetacertainfame.Hehadanotionthathewasbeinghad.Hecouldimaginehisfriendstalkingoftheaffairandlaughing.Shewasalittlevulgar;sometimesshesaid“Iseen”and“IfIhad’veknown.”Butwhatwouldgrammarmatterifhereallylovedher?Hecouldnotmakeuphismindwhethertolikeherordespiseherforwhatshehaddone.Ofcoursehehaddoneittoo.Hisinstincturgedhimtoremainfree,nottomarry.Onceyouaremarriedyouaredonefor,itsaid.
Whilehewassittinghelplesslyonthesideofthebedinshirtandtrousersshetappedlightlyathisdoorandentered.
