Дублінці
Two Gallants
Ashewalkedonslowly,timinghispacetotheirs,hewatchedCorley’sheadwhichturnedateverymomenttowardstheyoungwoman’sfacelikeabigballrevolvingonapivot.HekeptthepairinviewuntilhehadseenthemclimbingthestairsoftheDonnybrooktram;thenheturnedaboutandwentbackthewayhehadcome.
Nowthathewasalonehisfacelookedolder.Hisgaietyseemedtoforsakehimand,ashecamebytherailingsoftheDuke’sLawn,heallowedhishandtorunalongthem.TheairwhichtheharpisthadplayedbegantocontrolhismovementsHissoftlypaddedfeetplayedthemelodywhilehisfingerssweptascaleofvariationsidlyalongtherailingsaftereachgroupofnotes.
HewalkedlistlesslyroundStephen’sGreenandthendownGraftonStreet.Thoughhiseyestooknoteofmanyelementsofthecrowdthroughwhichhepassedtheydidsomorosely.Hefoundtrivialallthatwasmeanttocharmhimanddidnotanswertheglanceswhichinvitedhimtobebold.Heknewthathewouldhavetospeakagreatdeal,toinventandtoamuseandhisbrainandthroatweretoodryforsuchatask.TheproblemofhowhecouldpassthehourstillhemetCorleyagaintroubledhimalittle.Hecouldthinkofnowayofpassingthembuttokeeponwalking.HeturnedtotheleftwhenhecametothecornerofRutlandSquareandfeltmoreateaseinthedarkquietstreet,thesombrelookofwhichsuitedhismood.Hepausedatlastbeforethewindowofapoor-lookingshopoverwhichthewordsRefreshmentBarwereprintedinwhiteletters.
