Дублінці
The Boarding House
SheridanorMr.MeadeorBantamLyonshertaskwouldhavebeenmuchharder.Shedidnotthinkhewouldfacepublicity.Allthelodgersinthehouseknewsomethingoftheaffair;detailshadbeeninventedbysome.Besides,hehadbeenemployedforthirteenyearsinagreatCatholicwine-merchant’sofficeandpublicitywouldmeanforhim,perhaps,thelossofhisjob.Whereasifheagreedallmightbewell.Sheknewhehadagoodscrewforonethingandshesuspectedhehadabitofstuffputby.
Nearlythehalf-hour!Shestoodupandsurveyedherselfinthepier-glass.Thedecisiveexpressionofhergreatfloridfacesatisfiedherandshethoughtofsomemotherssheknewwhocouldnotgettheirdaughtersofftheirhands.
Mr.DoranwasveryanxiousindeedthisSundaymorning.Hehadmadetwoattemptstoshavebuthishandhadbeensounsteadythathehadbeenobligedtodesist.Threedays’reddishbeardfringedhisjawsandeverytwoorthreeminutesamistgatheredonhisglassessothathehadtotakethemoffandpolishthemwithhispocket-handkerchief.Therecollectionofhisconfessionofthenightbeforewasacauseofacutepaintohim;thepriesthaddrawnouteveryridiculousdetailoftheaffairandintheendhadsomagnifiedhissinthathewasalmostthankfulatbeingaffordedaloopholeofreparation.Theharmwasdone.Whatcouldhedonowbutmarryherorrunaway?Hecouldnotbrazenitout.Theaffairwouldbesuretobetalkedofandhisemployerwouldbecertaintohearofit.
