Дублінці
The Dead
Hewastheirfavouritenephewthesonoftheirdeadeldersister,Ellen,whohadmarriedT.J.ConroyofthePortandDocks.
“Grettatellsmeyou’renotgoingtotakeacabbacktoMonkstowntonight,Gabriel,”saidAuntKate.
“No,”saidGabriel,turningtohiswife,“wehadquiteenoughofthatlastyear,hadn’twe?Don’tyouremember,AuntKate,whatacoldGrettagotoutofit?Cabwindowsrattlingalltheway,andtheeastwindblowinginafterwepassedMerrion.Veryjollyitwas.Grettacaughtadreadfulcold.”
AuntKatefrownedseverelyandnoddedherheadateveryword.
“Quiteright,Gabriel,quiteright,”shesaid.“Youcan’tbetoocareful.”
“ButasforGrettathere,”saidGabriel,“she’dwalkhomeinthesnowifshewerelet.”
Mrs.Conroylaughed.
“Don’tmindhim,AuntKate,”shesaid.“He’sreallyanawfulbother,whatwithgreenshadesforTom’seyesatnightandmakinghimdothedumb-bells,andforcingEvatoeatthestirabout.Thepoorchild!Andshesimplyhatesthesightofit!...O,butyou’llneverguesswhathemakesmewearnow!”
Shebrokeoutintoapealoflaughterandglancedatherhusband,whoseadmiringandhappyeyeshadbeenwanderingfromherdresstoherfaceandhair.Thetwoauntslaughedheartily,too,forGabriel’ssolicitudewasastandingjokewiththem.
“Goloshes!”saidMrs.Conroy.“That’sthelatest.
