Дублінці
A Mother
Shenoticedthatheworehissoftbrownhatcarelesslyonthesideofhisheadandthathisaccentwasflat.Heheldaprogrammeinhishand,and,whilehewastalkingtoher,hechewedoneendofitintoamoistpulp.Heseemedtobeardisappointmentslightly.Mr.Holohancameintothedressingroomeveryfewminuteswithreportsfromthebox-office.Theartistestalkedamongthemselvesnervously,glancedfromtimetotimeatthemirrorandrolledandunrolledtheirmusic.Whenitwasnearlyhalf-pasteight,thefewpeopleinthehallbegantoexpresstheirdesiretobeentertained.Mr.Fitzpatrickcamein,smiledvacantlyattheroom,andsaid:
“Wellnow,ladiesandgentlemen.Isupposewe’dbetteropentheball.”
Mrs.Kearneyrewardedhisveryflatfinalsyllablewithaquickstareofcontempt,andthensaidtoherdaughterencouragingly:
“Areyouready,dear?”
Whenshehadanopportunity,shecalledMr.Holohanasideandaskedhimtotellherwhatitmeant.Mr.Holohandidnotknowwhatitmeant.Hesaidthatthecommitteehadmadeamistakeinarrangingforfourconcerts:fourwastoomany.
“Andtheartistes!”saidMrs.Kearney.“Ofcoursetheyaredoingtheirbest,butreallytheyarenotgood.”
Mr.Holohanadmittedthattheartisteswerenogoodbutthecommittee,hesaid,haddecidedtoletthefirstthreeconcertsgoastheypleasedandreserveallthetalentforSaturdaynight.Mrs.
