Улисс

           )Ladiesandgentlemen,IgiveyouIreland,homeandbeauty.

           MRSBREEN:Thedeardeaddaysbeyondrecall.Love’soldsweetsong.

           BLOOM:(Meaningfullydroppinghisvoice.)IconfessI’mteapotwithcuriositytofindoutwhethersomeperson’ssomethingisalittleteapotatpresent.

           MRSBREEN:(Gushingly.)Tremendouslyteapot!London’steapotandI’msimplyteapotalloverme!(Sherubssideswithhim.)Aftertheparlourmysterygamesandthecrackersfromthetreewesatonthestaircaseottoman.Underthemistletoe.Twoiscompany.

           BLOOM:(WearingapurpleNapoleonhatwithanamberhalfmoon,hisfingersandthumbpassingslowlydowntohersoftmoistmeatypalmwhichshesurrendersgently.)Thewitchinghourofnight.Itookthesplinteroutofthishand,carefully,slowly.(Tenderly,asheslipsonherfingerarubyring.)Làcidaremlamano.

           MRSBREEN:(Inaonepieceeveningfrockexecutedinmoonlightblue,atinselsylph’sdiademonherbrowwithherdancecardfallenbesidehermoonbluesatinslipper,curvesherpalmsoftly,breathingquickly.)Voglioenon.You’rehot!You’rescalding!Thelefthandnearesttheheart.

           BLOOM:Whenyoumadeyourpresentchoicetheysaiditwasbeautyandthebeast.Icanneverforgiveyouforthat.(Hisclenchedfistathisbrow.)Thinkwhatitmeans.Allyoumeanttomethen.(Hoarsely.)Woman,it’sbreakingme!

           (DenisBreen,whitetallhatted,withWisdomHely’ssandwichboards,shufflespastthemincarpetslippers,hisdullbeardthrustout,mutteringtorightandleft.