Дублінці
The Boarding House
WhenhereachedthefootofthestaircaseheglancedupandsawJackregardinghimfromthedoorofthereturn-room.
Suddenlyherememberedthenightwhenoneofthemusichallartistes,alittleblondLondoner,hadmadearatherfreeallusiontoPolly.ThereunionhadbeenalmostbrokenuponaccountofJack’sviolence.Everyonetriedtoquiethim.Themusic-hallartiste,alittlepalerthanusual,keptsmilingandsayingthattherewasnoharmmeant:butJackkeptshoutingathimthatifanyfellowtriedthatsortofagameonwithhissisterhe’dbloodywellputhisteethdownhisthroat,sohewould.
Pollysatforalittletimeonthesideofthebed,crying.Thenshedriedhereyesandwentovertothelooking-glass.Shedippedtheendofthetowelinthewater-jugandrefreshedhereyeswiththecoolwater.Shelookedatherselfinprofileandreadjustedahairpinaboveherear.Thenshewentbacktothebedagainandsatatthefoot.Sheregardedthepillowsforalongtimeandthesightofthemawakenedinhermindsecret,amiablememories.Sherestedthenapeofherneckagainstthecoolironbed-railandfellintoareverie.Therewasnolongeranyperturbationvisibleonherface.
Shewaitedonpatiently,almostcheerfully,withoutalarm.hermemoriesgraduallygivingplacetohopesandvisionsofthefuture.Herhopesandvisionsweresointricatethatshenolongersawthewhitepillowsonwhichhergazewasfixedorrememberedthatshewaswaitingforanything
