Улисс

           Butevenif—whatthen?Woulditmakeaverygreatdifference?Fromeverythingintheleastindelicateherfinebrednatureinstinctivelyrecoiled.Sheloathedthatsortofperson,thefallenwomenofftheaccommodationwalkbesidetheDodderthatwentwiththesoldiersandcoarsemenwithnorespectforagirl’shonour,degradingthesexandbeingtakenuptothepolicestation.No,no:notthat.TheywouldbejustgoodfriendslikeabigbrotherandsisterwithoutallthatotherinspiteoftheconventionsofSocietywithabigess.Perhapsitwasanoldflamehewasinmourningforfromthedaysbeyondrecall.Shethoughtsheunderstood.Shewouldtrytounderstandhimbecausemenweresodifferent.Theoldlovewaswaiting,waitingwithlittlewhitehandsstretchedout,withblueappealingeyes.Heartofmine!Shewouldfollow,herdreamoflove,thedictatesofherheartthattoldherhewasherallinall,theonlymaninalltheworldforherforlovewasthemasterguide.Nothingelsemattered.Comewhatmightshewouldbewild,untrammelled,free.

           CanonO’HanlonputtheBlessedSacramentbackintothetabernacleandgenuflectedandthechoirsangLaudateDominumomnesgentesandthenhelockedthetabernacledoorbecausethebenedictionwasoverandFatherConroyhandedhimhishattoputonandcrosscatEdyaskedwasn’tshecomingbutJackyCaffreycalledout:

           —O,look,Cissy!

           AndtheyalllookedwasitsheetlightningbutTommysawittoooverthetreesbesidethechurch,blueandthengreenandpurple.

           —It’sfireworks,CissyCaffreysaid.