Дублінці
A Painful Case
AndstilleverymorninghewentintothecitybytramandeveryeveningwalkedhomefromthecityafterhavingdinedmoderatelyinGeorge’sStreetandreadtheeveningpaperfordessert.
Oneeveningashewasabouttoputamorselofcornedbeefandcabbageintohismouthhishandstopped.Hiseyesfixedthemselvesonaparagraphintheeveningpaperwhichhehadproppedagainstthewater-carafe.Hereplacedthemorseloffoodonhisplateandreadtheparagraphattentively.Thenhedrankaglassofwater,pushedhisplatetooneside,doubledthepaperdownbeforehimbetweenhiselbowsandreadtheparagraphoverandoveragain.Thecabbagebegantodepositacoldwhitegreaseonhisplate.Thegirlcameovertohimtoaskwashisdinnernotproperlycooked.Hesaiditwasverygoodandateafewmouthfulsofitwithdifficulty.Thenhepaidhisbillandwentout.
HewalkedalongquicklythroughtheNovembertwilight,hisstouthazelstickstrikingthegroundregularly,thefringeofthebuffMailpeepingoutofaside-pocketofhistightreeferovercoat.OnthelonelyroadwhichleadsfromtheParkgatetoChapelizodheslackenedhispace.Hisstickstruckthegroundlessemphaticallyandhisbreath,issuingirregularly,almostwithasighingsound,condensedinthewintryair.Whenhereachedhishousehewentupatoncetohisbedroomand,takingthepaperfromhispocket,readtheparagraphagainbythefailinglightofthewindow.Hereaditnotaloud,butmovinghislipsasapriestdoeswhenhereadstheprayersSecreto.
