A Painful Case

           Mr.JamesDuffylivedinChapelizodbecausehewishedtoliveasfaraspossiblefromthecityofwhichhewasacitizenandbecausehefoundalltheothersuburbsofDublinmean,modernandpretentious.HelivedinanoldsombrehouseandfromhiswindowshecouldlookintothedisuseddistilleryorupwardsalongtheshallowriveronwhichDublinisbuilt.Theloftywallsofhisuncarpetedroomwerefreefrompictures.Hehadhimselfboughteveryarticleoffurnitureintheroom:ablackironbedstead,anironwashstand,fourcanechairs,aclothes-rack,acoal-scuttle,afenderandironsandasquaretableonwhichlayadoubledesk.Abookcasehadbeenmadeinanalcovebymeansofshelvesofwhitewood.Thebedwasclothedwithwhitebedclothesandablackandscarletrugcoveredthefoot.Alittlehand-mirrorhungabovethewashstandandduringthedayawhite-shadedlampstoodasthesoleornamentofthemantelpiece.Thebooksonthewhitewoodenshelveswerearrangedfrombelowupwardsaccordingtobulk.AcompleteWordsworthstoodatoneendofthelowestshelfandacopyoftheMaynoothCatechism,sewnintotheclothcoverofanotebook,stoodatoneendofthetopshelf.Writingmaterialswerealwaysonthedesk.InthedesklayamanuscripttranslationofHauptmann’sMichaelKramer,thestagedirectionsofwhichwerewritteninpurpleink,andalittlesheafofpapersheldtogetherbyabrasspin.