Дублінці
A Painful Case
AtmiddayhewenttoDanBurke’sandtookhislunch—abottleoflagerbeerandasmalltrayfulofarrowrootbiscuits.Atfouro’clockhewassetfree.Hedinedinaneating-houseinGeorge’sStreetwherehefelthimselfsafefromthesocietyoDublin’sgildedyouthandwheretherewasacertainplainhonestyinthebilloffare.Hiseveningswerespenteitherbeforehislandlady’spianoorroamingabouttheoutskirtsofthecity.HislikingforMozart’smusicbroughthimsometimestoanoperaoraconcert:theseweretheonlydissipationsofhislife.
Hehadneithercompanionsnorfriends,churchnorcreed.Helivedhisspirituallifewithoutanycommunionwithothers,visitinghisrelativesatChristmasandescortingthemtothecemeterywhentheydied.Heperformedthesetwosocialdutiesforolddignity’ssakebutconcedednothingfurthertotheconventionswhichregulatetheciviclife.Heallowedhimselftothinkthatincertaincircumstanceshewouldrobhishankbut,asthesecircumstancesneverarose,hisliferolledoutevenly—anadventurelesstale.
OneeveninghefoundhimselfsittingbesidetwoladiesintheRotunda.Thehouse,thinlypeopledandsilent,gavedistressingprophecyoffailure.Theladywhosatnexthimlookedroundatthedesertedhouseonceortwiceandthensaid:
“Whatapitythereissuchapoorhousetonight!It’ssohardonpeopletohavetosingtoemptybenches.”
Hetooktheremarkasaninvitationtotalk.
