Дублінці
A Little Cloud
Shesaidshewoulddowithoutanyteabutwhenitcamenearthetimeatwhichtheshopatthecornerclosedshedecidedtogooutherselfforaquarterofapoundofteaandtwopoundsofsugar.Sheputthesleepingchilddeftlyinhisarmsandsaid:
“Here.Don’twakenhim.”
Alittlelampwithawhitechinashadestooduponthetableanditslightfelloveraphotographwhichwasenclosedinaframeofcrumpledhorn.ItwasAnnie’sphotograph.LittleChandlerlookedatit,pausingatthethintightlips.SheworethepalebluesummerblousewhichhehadbroughtherhomeasapresentoneSaturday.Ithadcosthimtenandelevenpence;butwhatanagonyofnervousnessithadcosthim!Howhehadsufferedthatday,waitingattheshopdooruntiltheshopwasempty,standingatthecounterandtryingtoappearathiseasewhilethegirlpiledladies’blousesbeforehim,payingatthedeskandforgettingtotakeuptheoddpennyofhischange,beingcalledbackbythecashier,andfinally,strivingtohidehisblushesashelefttheshopbyexaminingtheparceltoseeifitwassecurelytied.WhenhebroughttheblousehomeAnniekissedhimandsaiditwasveryprettyandstylish;butwhensheheardthepriceshethrewtheblouseonthetableandsaiditwasaregularswindletochargetenandelevenpenceforit.Atfirstshewantedtotakeitbackbutwhenshetrieditonshewasdelightedwithit,especiallywiththemakeofthesleeves,andkissedhimandsaidhewasverygoodtothinkofher.
Hm!...
