Дублінці
A Little Cloud
”
LittleChandlersmiled,lookedconfusedlyathisglassandbithislowerlipwiththreechildishlywhitefrontteeth.
“Ihopeyou’llspendaneveningwithus,”hesaid,“beforeyougoback.Mywifewillbedelightedtomeetyou.Wecanhavealittlemusicand——”
“Thanksawfully,oldchap,”saidIgnatiusGallaher,“I’msorrywedidn’tmeetearlier.ButImustleavetomorrownight.”
“Tonight,perhaps...?”
“I’mawfullysorry,oldman.YouseeI’moverherewithanotherfellow,cleveryoungchapheistoo,andwearrangedtogotoalittlecard-party.Onlyforthat...”
“O,inthatcase...”
“Butwhoknows?”saidIgnatiusGallaherconsiderately.“NextyearImaytakealittleskipoverherenowthatI’vebrokentheice.It’sonlyapleasuredeferred.”
“Verywell,”saidLittleChandler,“thenexttimeyoucomewemusthaveaneveningtogether.That’sagreednow,isn’tit?”
“Yes,that’sagreed,”saidIgnatiusGallaher.“NextyearifIcome,paroled’honneur.”
“Andtoclinchthebargain,”saidLittleChandler,“we’lljusthaveonemorenow.”
IgnatiusGallahertookoutalargegoldwatchandlookedait.
“Isittobethelast?”hesaid.“Becauseyouknow,Ihaveana.p.”
“O,yes,positively,”saidLittleChandler.
