Дублінці
Clay
Atthethoughtofthefailureofherlittlesurpriseandofthetwoandfourpenceshehadthrownawayfornothingshenearlycriedoutright.
ButJoesaiditdidn’tmatterandmadehersitdownbythefire.Hewasverynicewithher.Hetoldherallthatwentoninhisoffice,repeatingforherasmartanswerwhichhehadmadetothemanager.MariadidnotunderstandwhyJoelaughedsomuchovertheanswerhehadmadebutshesaidthatthemanagermusthavebeenaveryoverbearingpersontodealwith.Joesaidhewasn’tsobadwhenyouknewhowtotakehim,thathewasadecentsortsolongasyoudidn’trubhimthewrongway.Mrs.Donnellyplayedthepianoforthechildrenandtheydancedandsang.Thenthetwonext-doorgirlshandedroundthenuts.NobodycouldfindthenutcrackersandJoewasnearlygettingcrossoveritandaskedhowdidtheyexpectMariatocracknutswithoutanutcracker.ButMariasaidshedidn’tlikenutsandthattheyweren’ttobotherabouther.ThenJoeaskedwouldshetakeabottleofstoutandMrs.Donnellysaidtherewasportwinetoointhehouseifshewouldpreferthat.Mariasaidshewouldrathertheydidn’taskhertotakeanything:butJoeinsisted.
SoMarialethimhavehiswayandtheysatbythefiretalkingoveroldtimesandMariathoughtshewouldputinagoodwordforAlphy.ButJoecriedthatGodmightstrikehimstonedeadifeverhespokeawordtohisbrotheragainandMariasaidshewassorryshehadmentionedthematter.Mrs.
