Дублінці
Eveline
Shehadhardworktokeepthehousetogetherandtoseethatthetwoyoungchildrenwhohadbeenlefttohrchargewenttoschoolregularlyandgottheirmealsregularly.Itwashardwork—ahardlife—butnowthatshewasabouttoleaveitshedidnotfinditawhollyundesirablelife.
ShewasabouttoexploreanotherlifewithFrank.Frankwasverykind,manly,open-hearted.Shewastogoawaywithhimbythenight-boattobehiswifeandtolivewithhiminBuenosAyreswherehehadahomewaitingforher.Howwellsherememberedthefirsttimeshehadseenhim;hewaslodginginahouseonthemainroadwheresheusedtovisit.Itseemedafewweeksago.Hewasstandingatthegate,hispeakedcappushedbackonhisheadandhishairtumbledforwardoverafaceofbronze.Thentheyhadcometoknoweachother.HeusedtomeetheroutsidetheStoreseveryeveningandseeherhome.HetookhertoseeTheBohemianGirlandshefeltelatedasshesatinanunaccustomedpartofthetheatrewithhim.Hewasawfullyfondofmusicandsangalittle.Peopleknewthattheywerecourtingand,whenhesangaboutthelassthatlovesasailor,shealwaysfeltpleasantlyconfused.HeusedtocallherPoppensoutoffun.Firstofallithadbeenanexcitementforhertohaveafellowandthenshehadbeguntolikehim.Hehadtalesofdistantcountries.HehadstartedasadeckboyatapoundamonthonashipoftheAllanLinegoingouttoCanada.Hetoldherthenamesoftheshipshehadbeenonandthenamesofthedifferentservices.
