Дублінці
The Dead
Hethentookfromhiswaistcoatpocketalittlepaperandglancedattheheadingshehadmadeforhisspeech.HewasundecidedaboutthelinesfromRobertBrowning,forhefearedtheywouldbeabovetheheadsofhishearers.SomequotationthattheywouldrecognisefromShakespeareorfromtheMelodieswouldbebetter.Theindelicateclackingofthemen’sheelsandtheshufflingoftheirsolesremindedhimthattheirgradeofculturedifferedfromhis.Hewouldonlymakehimselfridiculousbyquotingpoetrytothemwhichtheycouldnotunderstand.Theywouldthinkthathewasairinghissuperioreducation.Hewouldfailwiththemjustashehadfailedwiththegirlinthepantry.Hehadtakenupawrongtone.Hiswholespeechwasamistakefromfirsttolast,anutterfailure.
Justthenhisauntsandhiswifecameoutoftheladies’dressing-room.Hisauntsweretwosmall,plainlydressedoldwomen.AuntJuliawasaninchorsothetaller.Herhair,drawnlowoverthetopsofherears,wasgrey;andgreyalso,withdarkershadows,washerlargeflaccidface.Thoughshewasstoutinbuildandstooderect,hersloweyesandpartedlipsgavehertheappearanceofawomanwhodidnotknowwhereshewasorwhereshewasgoing.AuntKatewasmorevivacious.Herface,healthierthanhersister’s,wasallpuckersandcreases,likeashrivelledredapple,andherhair,braidedinthesameold-fashionedway,hadnotlostitsripenutcolour.
TheybothkissedGabrielfrankly.
