Дублінці
An Encounter
ButwhentherestraininginfluenceoftheschoolwasatadistanceIbegantohungeragainforwildsensations,fortheescapewhichthosechroniclesofdisorderaloneseemedtoofferme.ThemimicwarfareoftheeveningbecameatlastaswearisometomeastheroutineofschoolinthemorningbecauseIwantedrealadventurestohappentomyself.Butrealadventures,Ireflected,donothappentopeoplewhoremainathome:theymustbesoughtabroad.
ThesummerholidayswerenearathandwhenImadeupmymindtobreakoutofthewearinessofschoollifeforonedayatleast.WithLeoDillonandaboynamedMahonyIplannedaday’smiching.Eachofussavedupsixpence.WeweretomeetatteninthemorningontheCanalBridge.Mahony’sbigsisterwastowriteanexcuseforhimandLeoDillonwastotellhisbrothertosayhewassick.WearrangedtogoalongtheWharfRoaduntilwecametotheships,thentocrossintheferryboatandwalkouttoseethePigeonHouse.LeoDillonwasafraidwemightmeetFatherButlerorsomeoneoutofthecollege;butMahonyasked,verysensibly,whatwouldFatherButlerbedoingoutatthePigeonHouse.Wewerereassured:andIbroughtthefirststageoftheplottoanendbycollectingsixpencefromtheothertwo,atthesametimeshowingthemmyownsixpence.Whenweweremakingthelastarrangementsontheevewewereallvaguelyexcited.Weshookhands,laughing,andMahonysaid:
“Tilltomorrow,mates!”
ThatnightIsleptbadly.
