Дублінці

           Herfaithwasboundedbyherkitchen,but,ifshewasputtoit,shecouldbelievealsointhebansheeandintheHolyGhost.

           Thegentlemenbegantotalkoftheaccident.Mr.Cunninghamsaidthathehadonceknownasimilarcase.Amanofseventyhadbittenoffapieceofhistongueduringanepilepticfitandthetonguehadfilledinagain,sothatnoonecouldseeatraceofthebite.

           “Well,I’mnotseventy,”saidtheinvalid.

           “Godforbid,”saidMr.Cunningham.

           “Itdoesn’tpainyounow?”askedMr.M’Coy.

           Mr.M’Coyhadbeenatonetimeatenorofsomereputation.Hiswife,whohadbeenasoprano,stilltaughtyoungchildrentoplaythepianoatlowterms.Hislineoflifehadnotbeentheshortestdistancebetweentwopointsandforshortperiodshehadbeendriventolivebyhiswits.HehadbeenaclerkintheMidlandRailway,acanvasserforadvertisementsforTheIrishTimesandforTheFreeman’sJournal,atowntravellerforacoalfirmoncommission,aprivateinquiryagent,aclerkintheofficeoftheSub-Sheriff,andhehadrecentlybecomesecretarytotheCityCoroner.HisnewofficemadehimprofessionallyinterestedinMr.Kernan’scase.

           “Pain?Notmuch,”answeredMr.Kernan.“Butit’ssosickening.IfeelasifIwantedtoretchoff.”

           “That’stheboose,”saidMr.Cunninghamfirmly.

           “No,”saidMr.Kernan.“IthinkIcaughtcoldonthecar.