Портрет художника в юності

           AndherememberedthatNewmanhadheardthisnotealsointhebrokenlinesofVirgil,GIVINGUTTERANCE,LIKETHEVOICEOFNATUREHERSELFTOTHATPAINANDWEARINESSYETHOPEOFBETTERTHINGSWHICHHASBEENTHEEXPERIENCEOFHERCHILDRENINEVERYTIME.

           ***

           Hecouldwaitnolonger.

           FromthedoorofByron’spublic-housetothegateofClontarfChapel,fromthegateofClontailChapeltothedoorofByron’spublic-houseandthenbackagaintothechapelandthenbackagaintothepublic-househehadpacedslowlyatfirst,plantinghisstepsscrupulouslyinthespacesofthepatchworkofthefootpath,thentimingtheirfalltothefallofverses.AfullhourhadpassedsincehisfatherhadgoneinwithDanCrosby,thetutor,tofindoutforhimsomethingabouttheuniversity.Forafullhourhehadpacedupanddown,waiting:buthecouldwaitnolonger.

           HesetoffabruptlyfortheBull,walkingrapidlylesthisfather’sshrillwhistlemightcallhimback;andinafewmomentshehadroundedthecurveatthepolicebarrackandwassafe.

           Yes,hismotherwashostiletotheidea,ashehadreadfromherlistlesssilence.Yethermistrustprickedhimmorekeenlythanhisfather’sprideandhethoughtcoldlyhowhehadwatchedthefaithwhichwasfadingdowninhissoulageingandstrengtheninginhereyes.