Дублінці
A Painful Case
Heknewthattheprostratecreaturesdownbythewallwerewatchinghimandwishedhimgone.Noonewantedhim;hewasoutcastfromlife’sfeast.Heturnedhiseyestothegreygleamingriver,windingalongtowardsDublin.BeyondtheriverhesawagoodstrainwindingoutofKingsbridgeStation,likeawormwithafieryheadwindingthroughthedarkness,obstinatelyandlaboriously.Itpassedslowlyoutofsight;butstillheheardinhisearsthelaboriousdroneoftheenginereiteratingthesyllablesofhername.
Heturnedbackthewayhehadcome,therhythmoftheenginepoundinginhisears.Hebegantodoubttherealityofwhatmemorytoldhim.Hehaltedunderatreeandallowedtherhythmtodieaway.Hecouldnotfeelhernearhiminthedarknessnorhervoicetouchhisear.Hewaitedforsomeminuteslistening.Hecouldhearnothing:thenightwasperfectlysilent.Helistenedagain:perfectlysilent.Hefeltthathewasalone.
