Дублінці
The Dead
”
Afatbrowngooselayatoneendofthetableandattheotherend,onabedofcreasedpaperstrewnwithsprigsofparsley,layagreatham,strippedofitsouterskinandpepperedoverwithcrustcrumbs,aneatpaperfrillrounditsshinandbesidethiswasaroundofspicedbeef.Betweentheserivalendsranparallellinesofside-dishes:twolittleminstersofjelly,redandyellow;ashallowdishfullofblocksofblancmangeandredjam,alargegreenleaf-shapeddishwithastalk-shapedhandle,onwhichlaybunchesofpurpleraisinsandpeeledalmonds,acompaniondishonwhichlayasolidrectangleofSmyrnafigs,adishofcustardtoppedwithgratednutmeg,asmallbowlfullofchocolatesandsweetswrappedingoldandsilverpapersandaglassvaseinwhichstoodsometallcelerystalks.Inthecentreofthetabletherestood,assentriestoafruit-standwhichupheldapyramidoforangesandAmericanapples,twosquatold-fashioneddecantersofcutglass,onecontainingportandtheotherdarksherry.Ontheclosedsquarepianoapuddinginahugeyellowdishlayinwaitingandbehinditwerethreesquadsofbottlesofstoutandaleandminerals,drawnupaccordingtothecoloursoftheiruniforms,thefirsttwoblack,withbrownandredlabels,thethirdandsmallestsquadwhite,withtransversegreensashes.
Gabrieltookhisseatboldlyattheheadofthetableand,havinglookedtotheedgeofthecarver,plungedhisforkfirmlyintothegoose.
