Дублінці
Araby
Thecareerofourplaybroughtusthroughthedarkmuddylanesbehindthehouseswhereweranthegauntletoftheroughtribesfromthecottages,tothebackdoorsofthedarkdrippinggardenswhereodoursarosefromtheashpits,tothedarkodorousstableswhereacoachmansmoothedandcombedthehorseorshookmusicfromthebuckledharness.Whenwereturnedtothestreetlightfromthekitchenwindowshadfilledtheareas.Ifmyunclewasseenturningthecornerwehidintheshadowuntilwehadseenhimsafelyhoused.OrifMangan’ssistercameoutonthedoorsteptocallherbrotherintohisteawewatchedherfromourshadowpeerupanddownthestreet.Wewaitedtoseewhethershewouldremainorgoinand,ifsheremained,weleftourshadowandwalkeduptoMangan’sstepsresignedly.Shewaswaitingforus,herfiguredefinedbythelightfromthehalf-openeddoor.HerbrotheralwaysteasedherbeforeheobeyedandIstoodbytherailingslookingather.Herdressswungasshemovedherbodyandthesoftropeofherhairtossedfromsidetoside.
EverymorningIlayonthefloorinthefrontparlourwatchingherdoor.TheblindwaspulleddowntowithinaninchofthesashsothatIcouldnotbeseen.Whenshecameoutonthedoorstepmyheartleaped.Irantothehall,seizedmybooksandfollowedher.Ikeptherbrownfigurealwaysinmyeyeand,whenwecamenearthepointatwhichourwaysdiverged,Iquickenedmypaceandpassedher.Thishappenedmorningaftermorning.
