Дублінці
Clay
Inafewminutesthewomenbegantocomeinbytwosandthrees,wipingtheirsteaminghandsintheirpetticoatsandpullingdownthesleevesoftheirblousesovertheirredsteamingarms.Theysettleddownbeforetheirhugemugswhichthecookandthedummyfilledupwithhottea,alreadymixedwithmilkandsugarinhugetincans.Mariasuperintendedthedistributionofthebarmbrackandsawthateverywomangotherfourslices.Therewasagreatdealoflaughingandjokingduringthemeal.LizzieFlemingsaidMariawassuretogettheringand,thoughFleminghadsaidthatforsomanyHallowEves,Mariahadtolaughandsayshedidn’twantanyringormaneither;andwhenshelaughedhergrey-greeneyessparkledwithdisappointedshynessandthetipofhernosenearlymetthetipofherchin.ThenGingerMooneyliftedhermugofteaandproposedMaria’shealthwhilealltheotherwomenclatteredwiththeirmugsonthetable,andsaidshewassorryshehadn’tasupofportertodrinkitin.AndMarialaughedagaintillthetipofhernosenearlymetthetipofherchinandtillherminutebodynearlyshookitselfasunderbecausesheknewthatMooneymeantwellthough,ofcourse,shehadthenotionsofacommonwoman.
Butwasn’tMariagladwhenthewomenhadfinishedtheirteaandthecookandthedummyhadbeguntoclearawaythetea-things!Shewentintoherlittlebedroomand,rememberingthatthenextmorningwasamassmorning,changedthehandofthealarmfromseventosix.
