[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
book of poems perhaps men would listen. He would never be popular: he saw that. He could not sway the crowd but he might appeal to a little circle of kindred minds. The English crit- ics, perhaps, would recognise him as one of the Celtic school by reason of the melancholy tone of his poems; besides that, he would put in allusions. He began to invent sentences and phrases from the notice which his book would get. Mr. Chandler has the gift of easy and graceful verse. ... wistful sadness pervades these poems. ... The Celtic note. It was a pity 152 Dubliners (Signet Classics) his name was not more Irish-looking. Perhaps it would be better to insert his mother s name before the surname: Thomas Malone Chandler, or better still: T. Malone Chandler. He would speak to Gallaher about it. He pursued his revery so ardently that he passed his street and had to turn back. As he came near Corless s his former agitation be- gan to overmaster him and he halted before the door in indecision. Finally he opened the door and entered. The light and noise of the bar held him at the doorways for a few moments. He looked about him, but his sight was confused by the shin- ing of many red and green wine-glasses The bar seemed to him to be full of people and he felt that the people were observing him curiously. He glanced quickly to right and left (frowning slightly to make his errand appear serious), but http://booksiread.org 153 when his sight cleared a little he saw that no- body had turned to look at him: and there, sure enough, was Ignatius Gallaher leaning with his back against the counter and his feet planted far apart. Hallo, Tommy, old hero, here you are! What is it to be? What will you have? I m taking whisky: better stuff than we get across the wa- ter. Soda? Lithia? No mineral? I m the same Spoils the flavour.... Here, garcon, bring us two halves of malt whisky, like a good fellow.... Well, and how have you been pulling along since I saw you last? Dear God, how old we re getting! Do you see any signs of aging in me eh, what? A little grey and thin on the top what? Ignatius Gallaher took off his hat and dis- played a large closely cropped head. His face was heavy, pale and cleanshaven. His eyes, which were of bluish slate-colour, relieved his 154 Dubliners (Signet Classics) unhealthy pallor and shone out plainly above the vivid orange tie he wore. Between these rival features the lips appeared very long and shapeless and colourless. He bent his head and felt with two sympathetic fingers the thin hair at the crown. Little Chandler shook his head as a denial. Ignatius Galaher put on his hat again. It pulls you down, be said, Press life. Al- ways hurry and scurry, looking for copy and sometimes not finding it: and then, always to have something new in your stuff. Damn proofs and printers, I say, for a few days. I m deuced glad, I can tell you, to get back to the old coun- try. Does a fellow good, a bit of a holiday. I feel a ton better since I landed again in dear dirty Dublin.... Here you are, Tommy. Water? Say when. Little Chandler allowed his whisky to be very much diluted. http://booksiread.org 155 You don t know what s good for you, my boy, said Ignatius Gallaher. I drink mine neat. I drink very little as a rule, said Little Chan- dler modestly. An odd half-one or so when I meet any of the old crowd: that s all. Ah well, said Ignatius Gallaher, cheerfully, here s to us and to old times and old acquain- tance. They clinked glasses and drank the toast. I met some of the old gang today, said Ig- natius Gallaher. O Hara seems to be in a bad way. What s he doing? Nothing, said Little Chandler. He s gone to the dogs. But Hogan has a good sit, hasn t he? Yes; he s in the Land Commission. I met him one night in London and he seemed to be very flush.... Poor O Hara! Boose, I sup- pose? 156 Dubliners (Signet Classics) Other things, too, said Little Chandler shortly. Ignatius Gallaher laughed. Tommy, he said, I see you haven t changed an atom. You re the very same serious person that used to lecture me on Sunday mornings when I had a sore head and a fur on my tongue. You d want to knock about a bit in the world. Have you never been anywhere even for a trip? I ve been to the Isle of Man, said Little Chan- dler. Ignatius Gallaher laughed. The Isle of Man! he said. Go to London or Paris: Paris, for choice. That d do you good. Have you seen Paris? I should think I have! I ve knocked about there a little. And is it really so beautiful as they say? asked Little Chandler. He sipped a little of his drink while Ignatius http://booksiread.org 157 Gallaher finished his boldly. Beautiful? said Ignatius Gallaher, pausing on the word and on the flavour of his drink. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |