Дублінці

           MaryJane,whowasthenalittlegirlinshortclothes,wasnowthemainpropofthehousehold,forshehadtheorganinHaddingtonRoad.ShehadbeenthroughtheAcademyandgaveapupils’concerteveryyearintheupperroomoftheAntientConcertRooms.Manyofherpupilsbelongedtothebetter-classfamiliesontheKingstownandDalkeyline.Oldastheywere,herauntsalsodidtheirshare.Julia,thoughshewasquitegrey,wasstilltheleadingsopranoinAdamandEve’s,andKate,beingtoofeebletogoaboutmuch,gavemusiclessonstobeginnersontheoldsquarepianointhebackroom.Lily,thecaretaker’sdaughter,didhousemaid’sworkforthem.Thoughtheirlifewasmodest,theybelievedineatingwell;thebestofeverything:diamond-bonesirloins,three-shillingteaandthebestbottledstout.ButLilyseldommadeamistakeintheorders,sothatshegotonwellwithherthreemistresses.Theywerefussy,thatwasall.Buttheonlythingtheywouldnotstandwasbackanswers.

           Ofcourse,theyhadgoodreasontobefussyonsuchanight.Andthenitwaslongafterteno’clockandyettherewasnosignofGabrielandhiswife.BesidestheyweredreadfullyafraidthatFreddyMalinsmightturnupscrewed.TheywouldnotwishforworldsthatanyofMaryJane’spupilsshouldseehimundertheinfluence;andwhenhewaslikethatitwassometimesveryhardtomanagehim.