Дублінці
The Dead
SheheldanopenbookonherkneesandwaspointingoutsomethinginittoConstantinewho,dressedinaman-o-warsuit,layatherfeet.Itwasshewhohadchosenthenameofhersonsforshewasverysensibleofthedignityoffamilylife.Thankstoher,ConstantinewasnowseniorcurateinBalbriganand,thankstoher,GabrielhimselfhadtakenhisdegreeintheRoyalUniversity.Ashadowpassedoverhisfaceasherememberedhersullenoppositiontohismarriage.Someslightingphrasesshehadusedstillrankledinhismemory;shehadoncespokenofGrettaasbeingcountrycuteandthatwasnottrueofGrettaatall.ItwasGrettawhohadnursedherduringallherlastlongillnessintheirhouseatMonkstown.
HeknewthatMaryJanemustbeneartheendofherpieceforshewasplayingagaintheopeningmelodywithrunsofscalesaftereverybarandwhilehewaitedfortheendtheresentmentdieddowninhisheart.Thepieceendedwithatrillofoctavesinthetrebleandafinaldeepoctaveinthebass.GreatapplausegreetedMaryJaneas,blushingandrollinguphermusicnervously,sheescapedfromtheroom.Themostvigorousclappingcamefromthefouryoungmeninthedoorwaywhohadgoneawaytotherefreshment-roomatthebeginningofthepiecebuthadcomebackwhenthepianohadstopped.
Lancerswerearranged.GabrielfoundhimselfpartneredwithMissIvors.Shewasafrank-manneredtalkativeyounglady,withafreckledfaceandprominentbrowneyes.
