Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 1
Hesatinacorneroftheplayroompretendingtowatchagameofdominoesandonceortwicehewasabletohearforaninstantthelittlesongofthegas.TheprefectwasatthedoorwithsomeboysandSimonMoonanwasknottinghisfalsesleeves.HewastellingthemsomethingaboutTullabeg.
ThenhewentawayfromthedoorandWellscameovertoStephenandsaid:
—Tellus,Dedalus,doyoukissyourmotherbeforeyougotobed?
Stephenanswered:
—Ido.
Wellsturnedtotheotherfellowsandsaid:
—O,Isay,here’safellowsayshekisseshismothereverynightbeforehegoestobed.
Theotherfellowsstoppedtheirgameandturnedround,laughing.Stephenblushedundertheireyesandsaid:
—Idonot.
Wellssaid:
—O,Isay,here’safellowsayshedoesn’tkisshismotherbeforehegoestobed.
Theyalllaughedagain.Stephentriedtolaughwiththem.Hefelthiswholebodyhotandconfusedinamoment.Whatwastherightanswertothequestion?HehadgiventwoandstillWellslaughed.ButWellsmustknowtherightanswerforhewasinthirdofgrammar.HetriedtothinkofWells’smotherbuthedidnotdaretoraisehiseyestoWells’sface.HedidnotlikeWells’sface.
