Дублінці
A Mother
Theywentdowntoadiscreetpartofthecorridor.MrsKearneyaskedhimwhenwasherdaughtergoingtobepaid.Mr.HolohansaidthatMr.Fitzpatrickhadchargeofthat.Mrs.Kearneysaidthatshedidn’tknowanythingaboutMr.Fitzpatrick.Herdaughterhadsignedacontractforeightguineasandshewouldhavetobepaid.Mr.Holohansaidthatitwasn’thisbusiness.
“Whyisn’tityourbusiness?”askedMrs.Kearney.“Didn’tyouyourselfbringherthecontract?Anyway,ifit’snotyourbusinessit’smybusinessandImeantoseetoit.”
“You’dbetterspeaktoMr.Fitzpatrick,”saidMr.Holohandistantly.
“Idon’tknowanythingaboutMr.Fitzpatrick,”repeatedMrs.Kearney.“Ihavemycontract,andIintendtoseethatitiscarriedout.”
Whenshecamebacktothedressing-roomhercheekswereslightlysuffused.Theroomwaslively.TwomeninoutdoordresshadtakenpossessionofthefireplaceandwerechattingfamiliarlywithMissHealyandthebaritone.TheyweretheFreemanmanandMr.O’MaddenBurke.TheFreemanmanhadcomeintosaythathecouldnotwaitfortheconcertashehadtoreportthelecturewhichanAmericanpriestwasgivingintheMansionHouse.HesaidtheyweretoleavethereportforhimattheFreemanofficeandhewouldseethatitwentin.Hewasagrey-hairedman,withaplausiblevoiceandcarefulmanners.Heheldanextinguishedcigarinhishandandthearomaofcigarsmokefloatednearhim.
