Дублінці
A Little Cloud
“Whoknows?”hesaid,astheyliftedtheirglasses.“WhenyoucomenextyearImayhavethepleasureofwishinglonglifeandhappinesstoMr.andMrs.IgnatiusGallaher.”
IgnatiusGallaherintheactofdrinkingclosedoneeyeexpressivelyovertherimofhisglass.Whenhehaddrunkhesmackedhislipsdecisively,setdownhisglassandsaid:
“Nobloomingfearofthat,myboy.I’mgoingtohavemyflingfirstandseeabitoflifeandtheworldbeforeIputmyheadinthesack—ifIeverdo.”
“Somedayyouwill,”saidLittleChandlercalmly.
IgnatiusGallaherturnedhisorangetieandslate-blueeyesfulluponhisfriend.
“Youthinkso?”hesaid.
“You’llputyourheadinthesack,”repeatedLittleChandlerstoutly,“likeeveryoneelseifyoucanfindthegirl.”
Hehadslightlyemphasisedhistoneandhewasawarethathehadbetrayedhimself;but,thoughthecolourhadheightenedinhischeek,hedidnotflinchfromhisfriend’sgaze.IgnatiusGallaherwatchedhimforafewmomentsandthensaid:
“Ifeveritoccurs,youmaybetyourbottomdollarthere’llbenomooningandspooningaboutit.Imeantomarrymoney.She’llhaveagoodfataccountatthebankorshewon’tdoforme.”
LittleChandlershookhishead.
