Дублінці
Grace
Herhusbandcalledouttoher:
“Andhaveyounothingforme,duckie?”
“O,you!Thebackofmyhandtoyou!”saidMrs.Kernantartly.
Herhusbandcalledafterher:
“Nothingforpoorlittlehubby!”
Heassumedsuchacomicalfaceandvoicethatthedistributionofthebottlesofstouttookplaceamidgeneralmerriment.
Thegentlemendrankfromtheirglasses,settheglassesagainonthetableandpaused.ThenMr.CunninghamturnedtowardsMr.Powerandsaidcasually:
“OnThursdaynight,yousaid,Jack”
“Thursday,yes,”saidMr.Power.
“Righto!”saidMr.Cunninghampromptly.
“WecanmeetinM’Auley’s,”saidMr.M’Coy.“That’llbethemostconvenientplace.”
“Butwemustn’tbelate,”saidMr.Powerearnestly,“becauseitissuretobecrammedtothedoors.”
“Wecanmeetathalf-seven,”saidMr.M’Coy.
“Righto!”saidMr.Cunningham.
“Half-sevenatM’Auley’sbeit!”
Therewasashortsilence.Mr.Kernanwaitedtoseewhetherhewouldbetakenintohisfriends’confidence.Thenheasked:
“What’sinthewind?”
“O,it’snothing,”saidMr.Cunningham.“It’sonlyalittlematterthatwe’rearrangingaboutforThursday.”
“Theopera,isit?”saidMr.Kernan.
