Дублінці
The Boarding House
AlltheresidentyoungmenspokeofherasTheMadam.
Mrs.Mooney’syoungmenpaidfifteenshillingsaweekforboardandlodgings(beerorstoutatdinnerexcluded).Theysharedincommontastesandoccupationsandforthisreasontheywereverychummywithoneanother.Theydiscussedwithoneanotherthechancesoffavouritesandoutsiders.JackMooney,theMadam’sson,whowasclerktoacommissionagentinFleetStreet,hadthereputationofbeingahardcase.Hewasfondofusingsoldiers’obscenities:usuallyhecamehomeinthesmallhours.Whenhemethisfriendshehadalwaysagoodonetotellthemandhewasalwayssuretobeontoagoodthing-thatistosay,alikelyhorseoralikelyartiste.Hewasalsohandywiththemitsandsangcomicsongs.OnSundaynightstherewouldoftenbeareunioninMrs.Mooney’sfrontdrawing-room.Themusic-hallartisteswouldoblige;andSheridanplayedwaltzesandpolkasandvampedaccompaniments.PollyMooney,theMadam’sdaughter,wouldalsosing.Shesang:
I’ma...naughtygirl.Youneedn’tsham:YouknowIam.
Pollywasaslimgirlofnineteen;shehadlightsofthairandasmallfullmouth.Hereyes,whichweregreywithashadeofgreenthroughthem,hadahabitofglancingupwardswhenshespokewithanyone,whichmadeherlooklikealittleperversemadonna.Mrs.
