Araby

           NorthRichmondStreetbeingblind,wasaquietstreetexceptatthehourwhentheChristianBrothers’Schoolsettheboysfree.Anuninhabitedhouseoftwostoreysstoodattheblindend,detachedfromitsneighboursinasquaregroundTheotherhousesofthestreet,consciousofdecentliveswithinthem,gazedatoneanotherwithbrownimperturbablefaces.

           Theformertenantofourhouse,apriest,haddiedinthebackdrawing-room.Air,mustyfromhavingbeenlongenclosed,hunginalltherooms,andthewasteroombehindthekitchenwaslitteredwitholduselesspapers.AmongtheseIfoundafewpaper-coveredbooks,thepagesofwhichwerecurledanddamp:TheAbbot,byWalterScott,TheDevoutCommunnicantandTheMemoirsofVidocq.Ilikedthelastbestbecauseitsleaveswereyellow.Thewildgardenbehindthehousecontainedacentralapple-treeandafewstragglingbushesunderoneofwhichIfoundthelatetenant’srustybicycle-pump.Hehadbeenaverycharitablepriest;inhiswillhehadleftallhismoneytoinstitutionsandthefurnitureofhishousetohissister.

           Whentheshortdaysofwintercameduskfellbeforewehadwelleatenourdinners.Whenwemetinthestreetthehouseshadgrownsombre.Thespaceofskyaboveuswasthecolourofever-changingvioletandtowardsitthelampsofthestreetliftedtheirfeeblelanterns.Thecoldairstungusandweplayedtillourbodiesglowed.Ourshoutsechoedinthesilentstreet.