Дублінці
The Dead
Howcoolitmustbeoutside!Howpleasantitwouldbetowalkoutalone,firstalongbytheriverandthenthroughthepark!ThesnowwouldbelyingonthebranchesofthetreesandformingabrightcaponthetopoftheWellingtonMonument.Howmuchmorepleasantitwouldbetherethanatthesupper-table!
Heranovertheheadingsofhisspeech:Irishhospitality,sadmemories,theThreeGraces,Paris,thequotationfromBrowning.Herepeatedtohimselfaphrasehehadwritteninhisreview:“Onefeelsthatoneislisteningtoathought—tormentedmusic.”MissIvorshadpraisedthereview.Wasshesincere?Hadshereallyanylifeofherownbehindallherpropagandism?Therehadneverbeenanyill-feelingbetweenthemuntilthatnight.Itunnervedhimtothinkthatshewouldbeatthesupper-table,lookingupathimwhilehespokewithhercriticalquizzingeyes.Perhapsshewouldnotbesorrytoseehimfailinhisspeech.Anideacameintohismindandgavehimcourage.Hewouldsay,alludingtoAuntKateandAuntJulia:“LadiesandGentlemen,thegenerationwhichisnowonthewaneamongusmayhavehaditsfaultsbutformypartIthinkithadcertainqualitiesofhospitality,ofhumour,ofhumanity,whichthenewandveryseriousandhypereducatedgenerationthatisgrowinguparoundusseemstometolack.”Verygood:thatwasoneforMissIvors.Whatdidhecarethathisauntswereonlytwoignorantoldwomen?
Amurmurintheroomattractedhisattention.Mr.
