Дублінці
The Dead
AuntJuliavainlyaskedeachofherneighboursinturntotellherwhatGabrielhadsaid.
“HesayswearetheThreeGraces,AuntJulia,”saidMaryJane.
AuntJuliadidnotunderstandbutshelookedup,smiling,atGabriel,whocontinuedinthesamevein:
“LadiesandGentlemen,
“IwillnotattempttoplaytonightthepartthatParisplayedonanotheroccasion.Iwillnotattempttochoosebetweenthem.Thetaskwouldbeaninvidiousoneandonebeyondmypoorpowers.ForwhenIviewtheminturn,whetheritbeourchiefhostessherself,whosegoodheart,whosetoogoodheart,hasbecomeabywordwithallwhoknowher,orhersister,whoseemstobegiftedwithperennialyouthandwhosesingingmusthavebeenasurpriseandarevelationtousalltonight,or,lastbutnotleast,whenIconsiderouryoungesthostess,talented,cheerful,hard-workingandthebestofnieces,Iconfess,LadiesandGentlemen,thatIdonotknowtowhichofthemIshouldawardtheprize.”
Gabrielglanceddownathisauntsand,seeingthelargesmileonAuntJulia’sfaceandthetearswhichhadrisentoAuntKate’seyes,hastenedtohisclose.Heraisedhisglassofportgallantly,whileeverymemberofthecompanyfingeredaglassexpectantly,andsaidloudly:
“Letustoastthemallthreetogether.
