Дублінці
The Dead
“Sotheoldgentleman,asIsaid,harnessedJohnnyandputonhisverybesttallhatandhisverybeststockcollaranddroveoutingrandstylefromhisancestralmansionsomewherenearBackLane,Ithink.”
Everyonelaughed,evenMrs.Malins,atGabriel’smannerandAuntKatesaid:
“O,now,Gabriel,hedidn’tliveinBackLane,really.Onlythemillwasthere.”
“Outfromthemansionofhisforefathers,”continuedGabriel,“hedrovewithJohnny.AndeverythingwentonbeautifullyuntilJohnnycameinsightofKingBilly’sstatue:andwhetherhefellinlovewiththehorseKingBillysitsonorwhetherhethoughthewasbackagaininthemill,anyhowhebegantowalkroundthestatue.”
Gabrielpacedinacircleroundthehallinhisgoloshesamidthelaughteroftheothers.
“Roundandroundhewent,”saidGabriel,“andtheoldgentleman,whowasaverypompousoldgentleman,washighlyindignant.‘Goon,sir!Whatdoyoumean,sir?Johnny!Johnny!Mostextraordinaryconduct!Can’tunderstandthehorse!”
ThepealoflaughterwhichfollowedGabriel’simitationoftheincidentwasinterruptedbyaresoundingknockatthehalldoor.MaryJanerantoopenitandletinFreddyMalins.FreddyMalins,withhishatwellbackonhisheadandhisshouldershumpedwithcold,waspuffingandsteamingafterhisexertions.
“Icouldonlygetonecab,”hesaid.
