Chapter 5

           Hedrainedhisthirdcupofwateryteatothedregsandsettochewingthecrustsoffriedbreadthatwerescatterednearhim,staringintothedarkpoolofthejar.Theyellowdrippinghadbeenscoopedoutlikeabogholeandthepoolunderitbroughtbacktohismemorythedarkturf-colouredwaterofthebathinClongowes.Theboxofpawnticketsathiselbowhadjustbeenrifledandhetookupidlyoneafteranotherinhisgreasyfingerstheblueandwhitedockets,scrawledandsandedandcreasedandbearingthenameofthepledgerasDalyorMacEvoy.

           1PairBuskins.

           1D.Coat.

           3ArticlesandWhite.

           1Man’sPants.

           Thenheputthemasideandgazedthoughtfullyatthelidofthebox,speckledwithlousemarks,andaskedvaguely:

           —Howmuchistheclockfastnow?

           Hismotherstraightenedthebatteredalarmclockthatwaslyingonitssideinthemiddleofthemantelpieceuntilitsdialshowedaquartertotwelveandthenlaiditoncemoreonitsside.

           —Anhourandtwenty-fiveminutes,shesaid.Therighttimenowistwentypastten.Thedearknowsyoumighttrytobeintimeforyourlectures.

           —Fillouttheplaceformetowash,saidStephen.

           —Katey,fillouttheplaceforStephentowash.

           —Boody,fillouttheplaceforStephentowash.

           —Ican’t,I’mgoingforblue.Fillitout,you,Maggy.