Дублінці
The Dead
“Good-night,Dan,”hesaidgaily.
Whenthecabdrewupbeforethehotel,Gabrieljumpedoutand,inspiteofMr.BartellD’Arcy’sprotest,paidthedriver.Hegavethemanashillingoverhisfare.Themansalutedandsaid:
“AprosperousNewYeartoyou,sir.”
“Thesametoyou,”saidGabrielcordially.
Sheleanedforamomentonhisarmingettingoutofthecabandwhilestandingatthecurbstone,biddingtheothersgood—night.Sheleanedlightlyonhisarm,aslightlyaswhenshehaddancedwithhimafewhoursbefore.Hehadfeltproudandhappythen,happythatshewashis,proudofhergraceandwifelycarriage.Butnow,afterthekindlingagainofsomanymemories,thefirsttouchofherbody,musicalandstrangeandperfumed,sentthroughhimakeenpangoflust.Undercoverofhersilencehepressedherarmcloselytohisside;and,astheystoodatthehoteldoor,hefeltthattheyhadescapedfromtheirlivesandduties,escapedfromhomeandfriendsandrunawaytogetherwithwildandradiantheartstoanewadventure.
Anoldmanwasdozinginagreathoodedchairinthehall.Helitacandleintheofficeandwentbeforethemtothestairs.Theyfollowedhiminsilence,theirfeetfallinginsoftthudsonthethicklycarpetedstairs.Shemountedthestairsbehindtheporter,herheadbowedintheascent,herfrailshoulderscurvedaswithaburden,herskirtgirttightlyabouther.
