Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
Ahumblefollowerinthewakeofclamorousconversions,apoorEnglishmaninIreland,heseemedtohaveenteredonthestageofjesuithistorywhenthatstrangeplayofintrigueandsufferingandenvyandstruggleandindignityhadbeenallbutgiventhrough—alate-comer,atardyspirit.Fromwhathadhesetout?Perhapshehadbeenbornandbredamongseriousdissenters,seeingsalvationinJesusonlyandabhorringthevainpompsoftheestablishment.Hadhefelttheneedofanimplicitfaithamidthewelterofsectarianismandthejargonofitsturbulentschisms,sixprinciplemen,peculiarpeople,seedandsnakebaptists,supralapsariandogmatists?Hadhefoundthetruechurchallofasuddeninwindinguptotheendlikeareelofcottonsomefine-spunlineofreasoninguponinsufflationontheimpositionofhandsortheprocessionoftheHolyGhost?OrhadLordChristtouchedhimandbiddenhimfollow,likethatdisciplewhohadsatatthereceiptofcustom,ashesatbythedoorofsomezinc-roofedchapel,yawningandtellingoverhischurchpence?
Thedeanrepeatedthewordyetagain.
—Tundish!Wellnow,thatisinteresting!
—Thequestionyouaskedmeamomentagoseemstomemoreinteresting.Whatisthatbeautywhichtheartiststrugglestoexpressfromlumpsofearth,saidStephencoldly.
—Thelittlewordseemedtohaveturnedarapierpointofhissensitivenessagainstthiscourteousandvigilantfoe.
