Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 2
TheBlessedSacramenthadbeenremovedfromthetabernacleandthefirstbencheshadbeendrivenbacksoastoleavethedaisofthealtarandthespacebeforeitfree.AgainstthewallsstoodcompaniesofbarbellsandIndianclubs;thedumbbellswerepiledinonecorner:andinthemidstofcountlesshillocksofgymnasiumshoesandsweatersandsingletsinuntidybrownparcelstherestoodthestoutleather-jacketedvaultinghorsewaitingitsturntobecarrieduponthestageandsetinthemiddleofthewinningteamattheendofthegymnasticdisplay.
Stephen,thoughindeferencetohisreputationforessaywritinghehadbeenelectedsecretarytothegymnasium,hadhadnopartinthefirstsectionoftheprogrammebutintheplaywhichformedthesecondsectionhehadthechiefpart,thatofafarcicalpedagogue.HehadbeencastforitonaccountofhisstatureandgravemannersforhewasnowattheendofhissecondyearatBelvedereandinnumbertwo.
Ascoreoftheyoungerboysinwhiteknickersandsingletscamepatteringdownfromthestage,throughthevestryandtothechapel.Thevestryandchapelwerepeopledwitheagermastersandboys.Theplumpbaldsergeantmajorwastestingwithhisfootthespringboardofthevaultinghorse.Theleanyoungmaninalongovercoat,whowastogiveaspecialdisplayofintricateclubswinging,stoodnearwatchingwithinterest,hissilver-coatedclubspeepingoutofhisdeepside-pockets.
