Дублінці
An Encounter
ThemanandIwatchedthechase.ThecatescapedoncemoreandMahonybegantothrowstonesatthewallshehadescaladed.Desistingfromthis,hebegantowanderaboutthefarendofthefield,aimlessly.
Afteranintervalthemanspoketome.Hesaidthatmyfriendwasaveryroughboyandaskeddidhegetwhippedoftenatschool.IwasgoingtoreplyindignantlythatwewerenotNationalSchoolboystobewhipped,ashecalledit;butIremainedsilent.Hebegantospeakonthesubjectofchastisingboys.Hismind,asifmagnetisedagainbyhisspeech,seemedtocircleslowlyroundandrounditsnewcentre.Hesaidthatwhenboyswerethatkindtheyoughttobewhippedandwellwhipped.Whenaboywasroughandunrulytherewasnothingwoulddohimanygoodbutagoodsoundwhipping.Aslaponthehandoraboxontheearwasnogood:whathewantedwastogetanicewarmwhipping.Iwassurprisedatthissentimentandinvoluntarilyglancedupathisface.AsIdidsoImetthegazeofapairofbottle-greeneyespeeringatmefromunderatwitchingforehead.Iturnedmyeyesawayagain.
Themancontinuedhismonologue.Heseemedtohaveforgottenhisrecentliberalism.Hesaidthatifeverhefoundaboytalkingtogirlsorhavingagirlforasweethearthewouldwhiphimandwhiphim;andthatwouldteachhimnottobetalkingtogirls.Andifaboyhadagirlforasweetheartandtoldliesaboutitthenhewouldgivehimsuchawhippingasnoboyevergotinthisworld
