Дублінці
The Dead
Youunderstandnow?”
“Yes,sir,”saidthecabman.
“MakelikeabirdforTrinityCollege.”
“Right,sir,”saidthecabman.
Thehorsewaswhippedupandthecabrattledoffalongthequayamidachorusoflaughterandadieus.
Gabrielhadnotgonetothedoorwiththeothers.Hewasinadarkpartofthehallgazingupthestaircase.Awomanwasstandingnearthetopofthefirstflight,intheshadowalso.Hecouldnotseeherfacebuthecouldseetheterra-cottaandsalmon-pinkpanelsofherskirtwhichtheshadowmadeappearblackandwhite.Itwashiswife.Shewasleaningonthebanisters,listeningtosomething.Gabrielwassurprisedatherstillnessandstrainedhiseartolistenalso.Buthecouldhearlittlesavethenoiseoflaughteranddisputeonthefrontsteps,afewchordsstruckonthepianoandafewnotesofaman’svoicesinging.
Hestoodstillinthegloomofthehall,tryingtocatchtheairthatthevoicewassingingandgazingupathiswife.Therewasgraceandmysteryinherattitudeasifshewereasymbolofsomething.Heaskedhimselfwhatisawomanstandingonthestairsintheshadow,listeningtodistantmusic,asymbolof.Ifhewereapainterhewouldpaintherinthatattitude.Herbluefelthatwouldshowoffthebronzeofherhairagainstthedarknessandthedarkpanelsofherskirtwouldshowoffthelightones.DistantMusichewouldcallthepictureifhewereapainter.
