Dubliners I.docx

Dubliners I.docx

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DublinersI

Dubliners（I）

byJamesJoyce

TableofContents

THESISTERS1

ANENCOUNTER7

ARABY13

EVELINE17

AFTERTHERACE20

TWOGALLANTS24

THESISTERS

THEREwasnohopeforhimthistime:

itwasthethirdstroke.NightafternightIhadpassedthehouse（itwasvacationtime）andstudiedthelightedsquareofwindow:

andnightafternightIhadfounditlightedinthesameway,faintlyandevenly.Ifhewasdead,Ithought,IwouldseethereflectionofcandlesonthedarkenedblindforIknewthattwocandlesmustbesetattheheadofacorpse.Hehadoftensaidtome:

"Iamnotlongforthisworld,"andIhadthoughthiswordsidle.NowIknewtheyweretrue.EverynightasIgazedupatthewindowIsaidsoftlytomyselfthewordparalysis.Ithadalwayssoundedstrangelyinmyears,likethewordgnomonintheEuclidandthewordsimonyintheCatechism.Butnowitsoundedtomelikethenameofsomemaleficentandsinfulbeing.Itfilledmewithfear,andyetIlongedtobenearertoitandtolookuponitsdeadlywork.

OldCotterwassittingatthefire,smoking,whenIcamedownstairstosupper.Whilemyauntwasladlingoutmystirabouthesaid,asifreturningtosomeformerremarkofhis:

"No,Iwouldn'tsayhewasexactly...buttherewassomethingqueer...therewassomethinguncannyabouthim.I'lltellyoumyopinion...."

Hebegantopuffathispipe,nodoubtarranginghisopinioninhismind.Tiresomeoldfool!

Whenweknewhimfirstheusedtoberatherinteresting,talkingoffaintsandworms;butIsoongrewtiredofhimandhisendlessstoriesaboutthedistillery.

"Ihavemyowntheoryaboutit,"hesaid."Ithinkitwasoneofthose...peculiarcases....Butit'shardtosay...."

Hebegantopuffagainathispipewithoutgivingushistheory.Myunclesawmestaringandsaidtome:

"Well,soyouroldfriendisgone,you'llbesorrytohear."

"Who?

"saidI.

"FatherFlynn."

"Ishedead?

"

"Mr.Cotterherehasjusttoldus.Hewaspassingbythehouse."IknewthatIwasunderobservationsoIcontinuedeatingasifthenewshadnotinterestedme.MyuncleexplainedtooldCotter."Theyoungsterandheweregreatfriends.Theoldchaptaughthimagreatdeal,mindyou;andtheysayhehadagreatwishforhim."

"Godhavemercyonhissoul,"saidmyauntpiously.

OldCotterlookedatmeforawhile.IfeltthathislittlebeadyblackeyeswereexaminingmebutIwouldnotsatisfyhimbylookingupfrommyplate.Hereturnedtohispipeandfinallyspatrudelyintothegrate.

"Iwouldn'tlikechildrenofmine,"hesaid,"tohavetoomuchtosaytoamanlikethat."

"Howdoyoumean,Mr.Cotter?

"askedmyaunt.

"WhatImeanis,"saidoldCotter,"it'sbadforchildren.Myideais:

letayoungladrunaboutandplaywithyoungladsofhisownageandnotbe...AmIright,Jack?

"

"That'smyprinciple,too,"saidmyuncle."Lethimlearntoboxhiscorner.That'swhatI'malwayssayingtothatRosicrucianthere:

takeexercise.Why,whenIwasanippereverymorningofmylifeIhadacoldbath,winterandsummer.Andthat'swhatstandstomenow.Educationisallveryfineandlarge....Mr.Cottermighttakeapickofthatlegmutton,"headdedtomyaunt.

"No,no,notforme,"saidoldCotter.

Myauntbroughtthedishfromthesafeandputitonthetable."Butwhydoyouthinkit'snotgoodforchildren,Mr.Cotter?

"sheasked.

"It'sbadforchildren,"saidoldCotter,"becausetheirmindaresoimpressionable.Whenchildrenseethingslikethat,youknow,ithasaneffect...."

IcrammedmymouthwithstiraboutforfearImightgiveutterancetomyanger.Tiresomeoldred-nosedimbecile!

ItwaslatewhenIfellasleep.ThoughIwasangrywitholdCotterforalludingtomeasachild,Ipuzzledmyheadtoextractmeaningfromhisunfinishedsentences.InthedarkofmyroomIimaginedthatIsawagaintheheavygreyfaceoftheparalytic.IdrewtheblanketsovermyheadandtriedtothinkofChristmas.Butthegreyfacestillfollowedme.Itmurmured,andIunderstoodthatitdesiredtoconfesssomething.Ifeltmysoulrecedingintosomepleasantandviciousregion;andthereagainIfounditwaitingforme.ItbegantoconfesstomeinamurmuringvoiceandIwonderedwhyitsmiledcontinuallyandwhythelipsweresomoistwithspittle.ButthenIrememberedthatithaddiedofparalysisandIfeltthatItoowassmilingfeeblyasiftoabsolvethesimoniacofhissin.

ThenextmorningafterbreakfastIwentdowntolookatthelittlehouseinGreatBritainStreet.Itwasanunassumingshop,registeredunderthevaguenameofDrapery.Thedraperyconsistedmainlyofchildren'sbooteesandumbrellas;andonordinarydaysanoticeusedtohanginthewindow,saying:

UmbrellasRe-covered.Nonoticewasvisiblenowfortheshutterswereup.Acrapebouquetwastiedtothedoorknockerwithribbon.Twopoorwomenandatelegramboywerereadingthecardpinnedonthecrape.Ialsoapp