Дублінці
An Encounter
IlikedbettersomeAmericandetectivestorieswhichweretraversedfromtimetotimebyunkemptfierceandbeautifulgirls.Thoughtherewasnothingwronginthesestoriesandthoughtheirintentionwassometimesliterarytheywerecirculatedsecretlyatschool.OnedaywhenFatherButlerwashearingthefourpagesofRomanHistoryclumsyLeoDillonwasdiscoveredwithacopyofTheHalfpennyMarvel.
“Thispageorthispage?ThispageNow,Dillon,up!‘Hardlyhadtheday’...Goon!Whatday?‘Hardlyhadthedaydawned’...Haveyoustudiedit?Whathaveyouthereinyourpocket?”
Everyone’sheartpalpitatedasLeoDillonhandedupthepaperandeveryoneassumedaninnocentface.FatherButlerturnedoverthepages,frowning.
“Whatisthisrubbish?”hesaid.“TheApacheChief!IsthiswhatyoureadinsteadofstudyingyourRomanHistory?Letmenotfindanymoreofthiswretchedstuffinthiscollege.Themanwhowroteit,Isuppose,wassomewretchedfellowwhowritesthesethingsforadrink.I’msurprisedatboyslikeyou,educated,readingsuchstuff.Icouldunderstanditifyouwere...NationalSchoolboys.Now,Dillon,Iadviseyoustrongly,getatyourworkor...”
ThisrebukeduringthesoberhoursofschoolpaledmuchofthegloryoftheWildWestformeandtheconfusedpuffyfaceofLeoDillonawakenedoneofmyconsciences.
