Дублінці
An Encounter
Thedayhadgrownsultry,andinthewindowsofthegrocers’shopsmustybiscuitslaybleaching.Weboughtsomebiscuitsandchocolatewhichweatesedulouslyaswewanderedthroughthesqualidstreetswherethefamiliesofthefishermenlive.Wecouldfindnodairyandsowewentintoahuckster’sshopandboughtabottleofraspberrylemonadeeach.Refreshedbythis,Mahonychasedacatdownalane,butthecatescapedintoawidefield.WebothfeltrathertiredandwhenwereachedthefieldwemadeatonceforaslopingbankovertheridgeofwhichwecouldseetheDodder.
ItwastoolateandweweretootiredtocarryoutourprojectofvisitingthePigeonHouse.Wehadtobehomebeforefouro’clocklestouradventureshouldbediscovered.MahonylookedregretfullyathiscatapultandIhadtosuggestgoinghomebytrainbeforeheregainedanycheerfulness.Thesunwentinbehindsomecloudsandleftustoourjadedthoughtsandthecrumbsofourprovisions.
Therewasnobodybutourselvesinthefield.WhenwehadlainonthebankforsometimewithoutspeakingIsawamanapproachingfromthefarendofthefield.IwatchedhimlazilyasIchewedoneofthosegreenstemsonwhichgirlstellfortunes.Hecamealongbythebankslowly.Hewalkedwithonehanduponhishipandintheotherhandheheldastickwithwhichhetappedtheturflightly.Hewasshabbilydressedinasuitofgreenish-blackandworewhatweusedtocallajerryhatwithahighcrown.Heseemedtobefairlyoldforhismoustachewasashen-grey.
