Дублінці
Counterparts
Sheglancedathimonceortwiceand,whenthepartywasleavingtheroom,shebrushedagainsthischairandsaid“O,pardon!”inaLondonaccent.Hewatchedherleavetheroominthehopethatshewouldlookbackathim,buthewasdisappointed.Hecursedhiswantofmoneyandcursedalltheroundshehadstood,particularlyallthewhiskiesandApolinariswhichhehadstoodtoWeathers.Iftherewasonethingthathehateditwasasponge.Hewassoangrythathelostcountoftheconversationofhisfriends.
WhenPaddyLeonardcalledhimhefoundthattheyweretalkingaboutfeatsofstrength.WeatherswasshowinghisbicepsmuscletothecompanyandboastingsomuchthattheothertwohadcalledonFarringtontoupholdthenationalhonour.Farringtonpulleduphissleeveaccordinglyandshowedhisbicepsmuscletothecompany.Thetwoarmswereexaminedandcomparedandfinallyitwasagreedtohaveatrialofstrength.Thetablewasclearedandthetwomenrestedtheirelbowsonit,claspinghands.WhenPaddyLeonardsaid“Go!”eachwastotrytobringdowntheother’shandontothetable.Farringtonlookedveryseriousanddetermined.
Thetrialbegan.AfteraboutthirtysecondsWeathersbroughthisopponent’shandslowlydownontothetable.Farrington’sdarkwine-colouredfaceflusheddarkerstillwithangerandhumiliationathavingbeendefeatedbysuchastripling.
“You’renottoputtheweightofyourbodybehindit.Playfair,”hesaid.
