Дублінці
Grace
Peoplehadgreatsympathywithhim,foritwasknownthathehadmarriedanunpresentablewomanwhowasanincurabledrunkard.Hehadsetuphouseforhersixtimes;andeachtimeshehadpawnedthefurnitureonhim.
EveryonehadrespectforpoorMartinCunningham.Hewasathoroughlysensibleman,influentialandintelligent.Hisbladeofhumanknowledge,naturalastutenessparticularisedbylongassociationwithcasesinthepolicecourts,hadbeentemperedbybriefimmersionsinthewatersofgeneralphilosophy.Hewaswellinformed.HisfriendsbowedtohisopinionsandconsideredthathisfacewaslikeShakespeare’s.
Whentheplothadbeendisclosedtoher,Mrs.Kernanhadsaid:
“Ileaveitallinyourhands,Mr.Cunningham.”
Afteraquarterofacenturyofmarriedlife,shehadveryfewillusionsleft.Religionforherwasahabit,andshesuspectedthatamanofherhusband’sagewouldnotchangegreatlybeforedeath.Shewastemptedtoseeacuriousappropriatenessinhisaccidentand,butthatshedidnotwishtoseembloody-minded,wouldhavetoldthegentlementhatMr.Kernan’stonguewouldnotsufferbybeingshortened.However,Mr.Cunninghamwasacapableman;andreligionwasreligion.Theschememightdogoodand,atleast,itcoulddonoharm.Herbeliefswerenotextravagant.ShebelievedsteadilyintheSacredHeartasthemostgenerallyusefulofallCatholicdevotionsandapprovedofthesacraments.
