Дублінці
The Dead
“Iwasjusttellingmymother,”hesaid,“Ineverheardyousingsowell,never.No,Ineverheardyourvoicesogoodasitistonight.Now!Wouldyoubelievethatnow?That’sthetruth.Uponmywordandhonourthat’sthetruth.Ineverheardyourvoicesoundsofreshandso...soclearandfresh,never.”
AuntJuliasmiledbroadlyandmurmuredsomethingaboutcomplimentsasshereleasedherhandfromhisgrasp.Mr.Browneextendedhisopenhandtowardsherandsaidtothosewhowerenearhiminthemannerofashowmanintroducingaprodigytoanaudience:
“MissJuliaMorkan,mylatestdiscovery!”
HewaslaughingveryheartilyatthishimselfwhenFreddyMalinsturnedtohimandsaid:
“Well,Browne,ifyou’reseriousyoumightmakeaworsediscovery.AllIcansayisIneverheardhersinghalfsowellaslongasIamcominghere.Andthat’sthehonesttruth.”
“NeitherdidI,”saidMr.Browne.“Ithinkhervoicehasgreatlyimproved.”
AuntJuliashruggedhershouldersandsaidwithmeekpride:
“ThirtyyearsagoIhadn’tabadvoiceasvoicesgo.”
“IoftentoldJulia,”saidAuntKateemphatically,“thatshewassimplythrownawayinthatchoir.Butsheneverwouldbesaidbyme.
