Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 1
Hetookuphisknifeandforkagainingoodhumourandsettoeating,sayingtoMrCasey:
—Letushavethestory,John.Itwillhelpustodigest.
StephenlookedwithaffectionatMrCasey’sfacewhichstaredacrossthetableoverhisjoinedhands.Helikedtositnearhimatthefire,lookingupathisdarkfierceface.Buthisdarkeyeswereneverfierceandhisslowvoicewasgoodtolistento.Butwhywashethenagainstthepriests?BecauseDantemustberightthen.ButhehadheardhisfathersaythatshewasaspoilednunandthatshehadcomeoutoftheconventintheAlleghanieswhenherbrotherhadgotthemoneyfromthesavagesforthetrinketsandthechainies.PerhapsthatmadehersevereagainstParnell.AndshedidnotlikehimtoplaywithEileenbecauseEileenwasaprotestantandwhenshewasyoungsheknewchildrenthatusedtoplaywithprotestantsandtheprotestantsusedtomakefunofthelitanyoftheBlessedVirgin.TOWEROFIVORYtheyusedtosay,HOUSEOFGOLD!Howcouldawomanbeatowerofivoryorahouseofgold?Whowasrightthen?AndherememberedtheeveningintheinfirmaryinClongowes,thedarkwaters,thelightatthepierheadandthemoanofsorrowfromthepeoplewhentheyhadheard.
Eileenhadlongwhitehands.Oneeveningwhenplayingtigshehadputherhandsoverhiseyes:longandwhiteandthinandcoldandsoft.Thatwasivory:acoldwhitething.ThatwasthemeaningofTOWEROFIVORY.
