Дублінці
An Encounter
“Andsomuchthebetterforus—abobandatannerinsteadofabob.”
WewalkedalongtheNorthStrandRoadtillwecametotheVitriolWorksandthenturnedtotherightalongtheWharfRoad.MahonybegantoplaytheIndianassoonaswewereoutofpublicsight.Hechasedacrowdofraggedgirls,brandishinghisunloadedcatapultand,whentworaggedboysbegan,outofchivalry,toflingstonesatus,heproposedthatweshouldchargethem.Iobjectedthattheboysweretoosmallandsowewalkedon,theraggedtroopscreamingafterus:“Swaddlers!Swaddlers!”thinkingthatwewereProtestantsbecauseMahony,whowasdark-complexioned,worethesilverbadgeofacricketclubinhiscap.WhenwecametotheSmoothingIronwearrangedasiege;butitwasafailurebecauseyoumusthaveatleastthree.WerevengedourselvesonLeoDillonbysayingwhatafunkhewasandguessinghowmanyhewouldgetatthreeo’clockfromMr.Ryan.
Wecamethenneartheriver.Wespentalongtimewalkingaboutthenoisystreetsflankedbyhighstonewalls,watchingtheworkingofcranesandenginesandoftenbeingshoutedatforourimmobilitybythedriversofgroaningcarts.Itwasnoonwhenwereachedthequaysandasallthelabourersseemedtobeeatingtheirlunches,weboughttwobigcurrantbunsandsatdowntoeatthemonsomemetalpipingbesidetheriver.
