Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 2
Hedidnotknowwheretoseekitorhow,butapremonitionwhichledhimontoldhimthatthisimagewould,withoutanyovertactofhis,encounterhim.Theywouldmeetquietlyasiftheyhadknowneachotherandhadmadetheirtryst,perhapsatoneofthegatesorinsomemoresecretplace.Theywouldbealone,surroundedbydarknessandsilence:andinthatmomentofsupremetendernesshewouldbetransfigured.
Hewouldfadeintosomethingimpalpableunderhereyesandtheninamomenthewouldbetransfigured.Weaknessandtimidityandinexperiencewouldfallfromhiminthatmagicmoment.
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Twogreatyellowcaravanshadhaltedonemorningbeforethedoorandmenhadcometrampingintothehousetodismantleit.Thefurniturehadbeenhustledoutthroughthefrontgardenwhichwasstrewnwithwispsofstrawandropeendsandintothehugevansatthegate.Whenallhadbeensafelystowedthevanshadsetoffnoisilydowntheavenue:andfromthewindowoftherailwaycarriage,inwhichhehadsatwithhisred-eyedmother,StephenhadseenthemlumberingalongtheMerrionRoad.
TheparlourfirewouldnotdrawthateveningandMrDedalusrestedthepokeragainstthebarsofthegratetoattracttheflame.UncleCharlesdozedinacornerofthehalffurnisheduncarpetedroomandnearhimthefamilyportraitsleanedagainstthewall.Thelamponthetableshedaweaklightovertheboardedfloor,muddiedbythefeetofthevan-men.
