Дублінці
The Boarding House
MooneyglancedinstinctivelyatthelittlegiltclockonthemantelpieceassoonasshehadbecomeawarethroughherreverythatthebellsofGeorge’sChurchhadstoppedringing.Itwasseventeenminutespasteleven:shewouldhavelotsoftimetohavethematteroutwithMr.DoranandthencatchshorttwelveatMarlboroughStreet.Shewassureshewouldwin.Tobeginwithshehadalltheweightofsocialopiniononherside:shewasanoutragedmother.Shehadallowedhimtolivebeneathherroof,assumingthathewasamanofhonourandhehadsimplyabusedherhospitality.Hewasthirty-fourorthirty-fiveyearsofage,sothatyouthcouldnotbepleadedashisexcuse;norcouldignorancebehisexcusesincehewasamanwhohadseensomethingoftheworld.HehadsimplytakenadvantageofPolly’syouthandinexperience:thatwasevident.Thequestionwas:Whatreparationwouldhemake?
Theremustbereparationmadeinsuchcase.Itisallverywellfortheman:hecangohiswaysasifnothinghadhappened,havinghadhismomentofpleasure,butthegirlhastobearthebrunt.Somemotherswouldbecontenttopatchupsuchanaffairforasumofmoney;shehadknowncasesofit.Butshewouldnotdoso.Forheronlyonereparationcouldmakeupforthelossofherdaughter’shonour:marriage.
ShecountedallhercardsagainbeforesendingMaryuptoDoran’sroomtosaythatshewishedtospeakwithhim.Shefeltsureshewouldwin.Hewasaseriousyoungman,notrakishorloud-voicedliketheothers.IfithadbeenMr.
