Портрет художника в юності

           HecouldhearthebandplayingTHELILYOFKILLARNEYandknewthatinafewmomentsthecurtainwouldgoup.Hefeltnostagefrightbutthethoughtoftheparthehadtoplayhumiliatedhim.Aremembranceofsomeofhislinesmadeasuddenflushrisetohispaintedcheeks.Hesawherseriousalluringeyeswatchinghimfromamongtheaudienceandtheirimageatoncesweptawayhisscruples,leavinghiswillcompact.Anothernatureseemedtohavebeenlenthim:theinfectionoftheexcitementandyouthabouthimenteredintoandtransformedhismoodymistrustfulness.Foroneraremomentheseemedtobeclothedintherealapparelofboyhood:and,ashestoodinthewingsamongtheotherplayers,hesharedthecommonmirthamidwhichthedropscenewashauledupwardsbytwoable-bodiedpriestswithviolentjerksandallawry.

           Afewmomentsafterhefoundhimselfonthestageamidthegarishgasandthedimscenery,actingbeforetheinnumerablefacesofthevoid.Itsurprisedhimtoseethattheplaywhichhehadknownatrehearsalsforadisjointedlifelessthinghadsuddenlyassumedalifeofitsown.Itseemednowtoplayitself,heandhisfellowactorsaidingitwiththeirparts.Whenthecurtainfellonthelastsceneheheardthevoidfilledwithapplauseand,throughariftinasidescene,sawthesimplebodybeforewhichhehadactedmagicallydeformed,thevoidoffacesbreakingatallpointsandfallingasunderintobusygroups.