Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
Onallsidesdistortedreflectionsofherimagestartedfromhismemory:theflowergirlintheraggeddresswithdampcoarsehairandahoyden’sfacewhohadcalledherselfhisowngirlandbeggedhishandsel,thekitchen-girlinthenexthousewhosangovertheclatterofherplates,withthedrawlofacountrysinger,thefirstbarsofBYKILLARNEY’SLAKESANDFELLS,agirlwhohadlaughedgailytoseehimstumblewhentheirongratinginthefootpathnearCorkHillhadcaughtthebrokensoleofhisshoe,agirlhehadglancedat,attractedbyhersmallripemouth,asshepassedoutofJacob’sbiscuitfactory,whohadcriedtohimoverhershoulder:
—Doyoulikewhatyouseenofme,straighthairandcurlyeyebrows?
Andyethefeltthat,howeverhemightrevileandmockherimage,hisangerwasalsoaformofhomage.Hehadlefttheclassroomindisdainthatwasnotwhollysincere,feelingthatperhapsthesecretofherracelaybehindthosedarkeyesuponwhichherlonglashesflungaquickshadow.Hehadtoldhimselfbitterlyashewalkedthroughthestreetsthatshewasafigureofthewomanhoodofhercountry,abat-likesoulwakingtotheconsciousnessofitselfindarknessandsecrecyandloneliness,tarryingawhile,lovelessandsinless,withhermildloverandleavinghimtowhisperofinnocenttransgressionsinthelatticedearofapriest.
