Дублінці
A Mother
Fromthishumblestatehehadraisedhimselfuntilhehadbecomeafirst-rateartiste.Hehadappearedingrandopera.Onenight,whenanoperaticartistehadfallenill,hehadundertakenthepartofthekingintheoperaofMaritanaattheQueen’sTheatre.Hesanghismusicwithgreatfeelingandvolumeandwaswarmlywelcomedbythegallery;but,unfortunately,hemarredthegoodimpressionbywipinghisnoseinhisglovedhandonceortwiceoutofthoughtlessness.Hewasunassumingandspokelittle.Hesaidyoussosoftlythatitpassedunnoticedandheneverdrankanythingstrongerthanmilkforhisvoice’ssake.Mr.Bell,thesecondtenor,wasafair-hairedlittlemanwhocompetedeveryyearforprizesattheFeisCeoil.Onhisfourthtrialhehadbeenawardedabronzemedal.Hewasextremelynervousandextremelyjealousofothertenorsandhecoveredhisnervousjealousywithanebullientfriendliness.Itwashishumourtohavepeopleknowwhatanordealaconcertwastohim.ThereforewhenhesawMr.Dugganhewentovertohimandasked:
“Areyouinittoo?”
“Yes,”saidMr.Duggan.
Mr.Belllaughedathisfellow-sufferer,heldouthishandandsaid:
“Shake!”
Mrs.Kearneypassedbythesetwoyoungmenandwenttotheedgeofthescreentoviewthehouse.Theseatswerebeingfilleduprapidlyandapleasantnoisecirculatedintheauditorium.Shecamebackandspoketoherhusbandprivately.
