Дублінці
Ivy Day in the Committee Room
’‘Wisha!’saysI,‘whatkindofpeopleisgoingatallnow?”
Atthispointtherewasaknockatthedoor,andaboyputinhishead.
“Whatisit?”saidtheoldman.
“FromtheBlackEagle,”saidtheboy,walkinginsidewaysanddepositingabasketonthefloorwithanoiseofshakenbottles.
Theoldmanhelpedtheboytotransferthebottlesfromthebaskettothetableandcountedthefulltally.Afterthetransfertheboyputhisbasketonhisarmandasked:
“Anybottles?”
“Whatbottles?”saidtheoldman.
“Won’tyouletusdrinkthemfirst?”saidMr.Henchy.
“Iwastoldtoaskforthebottles.”
“Comebacktomorrow,”saidtheoldman.
“Here,boy!”saidMr.Henchy,“willyourunovertoO’Farrell’sandaskhimtolendusacorkscrew—forMr.Henchy,say.Tellhimwewon’tkeepitaminute.Leavethebasketthere.”
TheboywentoutandMr.Henchybegantorubhishandscheerfully,saying:
“Ah,well,he’snotsobadafterall.He’sasgoodashisword,anyhow.”
“There’snotumblers,”saidtheoldman.
“O,don’tletthattroubleyou,Jack,”saidMr.Henchy.“Many’sthegoodmanbeforenowdrankoutofthebottle.”
“Anyway,it’sbetterthannothing,”saidMr.O’Connor.
