Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 2
ThisspiritofquarrelsomecomradeshipwhichhehadobservedlatelyinhisrivalhadnotseducedStephenfromhishabitsofquietobedience.Hemistrustedtheturbulenceanddoubtedthesincerityofsuchcomradeshipwhichseemedtohimasorryanticipationofmanhood.Thequestionofhonourhereraisedwas,likeallsuchquestions,trivialtohim.Whilehismindhadbeenpursuingitsintangiblephantomsandturninginirresolutionfromsuchpursuithehadheardabouthimtheconstantvoicesofhisfatherandofhismasters,urginghimtobeagentlemanaboveallthingsandurginghimtobeagoodcatholicaboveallthings.Thesevoiceshadnowcometobehollow-soundinginhisears.Whenthegymnasiumhadbeenopenedhehadheardanothervoiceurginghimtobestrongandmanlyandhealthyandwhenthemovementtowardsnationalrevivalhadbeguntobefeltinthecollegeyetanothervoicehadbiddenhimbetruetohiscountryandhelptoraiseupherlanguageandtradition.Intheprofaneworld,asheforesaw,aworldlyvoicewouldbidhimraiseuphisfather’sfallenstatebyhislaboursand,meanwhile,thevoiceofhisschoolcomradesurgedhimtobeadecentfellow,toshieldothersfromblameortobegthemoffandtodohisbesttogetfreedaysfortheschool.Anditwasthedinofallthesehollow-soundingvoicesthatmadehimhaltirresolutelyinthepursuitofphantoms.Hegavethemearonlyforatimebuthewashappyonlywhenhewasfarfromthem,beyondtheircall,aloneorinthecompanyofphantasmalcomrades.
