Улисс
Chapter 2
Didthemanreappearelsewhere?
Afteralapseoffourminutestheglimmerofhiscandlewasdiscerniblethroughthesemitransparentsemicircularglassfanlightoverthehalldoor.Thehalldoorturnedgraduallyonitshinges.Intheopenspaceofthedoorwaythemanreappearedwithouthishat,withhiscandle.
DidStephenobeyhissign?
Yes,enteringsoftly,hehelpedtocloseandchainthedoorandfollowedsoftlyalongthehallwaytheman’sbackandlistedfeetandlightedcandlepastalightedcreviceofdoorwayontheleftandcarefullydownaturningstaircaseofmorethanfivestepsintothekitchenofBloom’shouse.
WhatdidBloomdo?
Heextinguishedthecandlebyasharpexpirationofbreathuponitsflame,drewtwospoonseatdealchairstothehearthstone,oneforStephenwithitsbacktotheareawindow,theotherforhimselfwhennecessary,kneltononeknee,composedinthegrateapyreofcrosslaidresintippedsticksandvariouscolouredpapersandirregularpolygonsofbestAbramcoalattwentyoneshillingsatonfromtheyardofMessrsFlowerandM’Donaldof14D’Olierstreet,kindleditatthreeprojectingpointsofpaperwithoneignitedlucifermatch,therebyreleasingthepotentialenergycontainedinthefuelbyallowingitscarbonandhydrogenelementstoenterintofreeunionwiththeoxygenoftheair.
