WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:05.679 Story nine of Dubliner's. This is a LibriVox recording. All 2 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.439 LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information 3 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:14.080 or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by 4 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:23.559 Bruce Purie. Dubliner's by James Joyce. Story nine counterparts. The 5 00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:27.199 bell rang furiously, and when Miss Parker went to the tube, 6 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:30.120 a furious voice called out in a piercing north of 7 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:36.159 Ireland accent, then Farrington. Here. Miss Parker returned to her machine, 8 00:00:36.439 --> 00:00:38.399 saying to a man who was writing at a desk, 9 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:44.039 mister Aline wants you upstairs. The man muttered blast him 10 00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:47.840 under his breath, and pushed back his chair to stand up. 11 00:00:48.679 --> 00:00:51.320 When he stood up, he was tall and of great bulk. 12 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:55.240 He had a hanging face, dark wine colored, with fair 13 00:00:55.240 --> 00:01:00.159 eyebrows and mustache. His eyes bulged forward slightly, and the 14 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:03.640 whites of them were dirty. He lifted up the counter, and, 15 00:01:03.799 --> 00:01:06.120 passing by the clients, went out of the office with 16 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:10.799 a heavy step. He went heavily upstairs until he came 17 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:14.079 to the second landing, where a door bore a brath 18 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:19.000 plate with the inscription mister Alaine. Here he halted, puffing 19 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:23.519 with labor and vexation and knocked. The shrill voice cried 20 00:01:23.959 --> 00:01:30.680 come in. The man entered mister Elaine's room. Simultaneously, mister Elaine, 21 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:33.760 a little man wearing gold rimmed glasses on a clean 22 00:01:33.799 --> 00:01:37.519 shaven face, shot his head up over a pile of documents. 23 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.519 The head itself was so pink and hairless it seemed 24 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:44.519 like a large egg reposing on the papers. Mister Elaine 25 00:01:44.519 --> 00:01:48.280 did not lose a moment. Farrington, what is the meaning 26 00:01:48.319 --> 00:01:51.000 of this? Why have I always to complain of you? 27 00:01:51.560 --> 00:01:53.519 May I ask you why you haven't made a copy 28 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:56.719 of that contract between Bodley and Kerwin. I told you 29 00:01:56.760 --> 00:02:01.000 it must be ready by four o'clock. But mister Shelley said, sir. 30 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:03.959 Mister Shelley said, sir, kindly, attend to what I say 31 00:02:03.959 --> 00:02:06.640 and not to what mister Shelley says. Sir, you have 32 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:09.919 always some excuse or another for shirking work. Let me 33 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:12.240 tell you that if the contract is not copied before 34 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:14.919 this evening, I'll lay the matter before mister Crosby. Do 35 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:18.840 you hear me now, Yes, sir, do you hear me now? 36 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:21.319 I And another little matter. I might as well be 37 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.039 talking to the wall as talking to you. Understand once 38 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:26.719 for all that you get half an hour for your luncheon, 39 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:29.000 not an hour and a half. How many courses do 40 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:29.360 you want? 41 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:32.159 I'd like to know? Do you mind me now? Yes, 42 00:02:32.199 --> 00:02:36.280 sir mister Elaine bent his head again upon his pile 43 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:40.639 of papers. The man stared fixedly at the polished skull 44 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:45.479 which directed the affairs of Crosbie and Elane, gaging its fragility. 45 00:02:46.199 --> 00:02:49.159 A spasm of rage gripped his throat for a few 46 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:53.280 moments and then passed, leaving after it a sharp sensation 47 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:57.400 of thirst. The man recognized the sensation and felt that 48 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:00.800 he must have a good night's drinking. The middle of 49 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:03.360 the month was past, and if he could get the 50 00:03:03.400 --> 00:03:05.800 copy done in time, mister Elaine might give him an 51 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:10.400 order on the cashier. He stood still, gazing fixedly at 52 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:14.639 the head upon the pile of papers. Suddenly mister Elaine 53 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:17.280 began to upset all the papers, searching for something. Then, 54 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:19.520 as if he had been unaware of the man's presence 55 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:23.159 till that moment, he shot up his head again, saying, eh, 56 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:25.039 are you going to stand there all day? 57 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:26.120 Upon my word? 58 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:29.800 Farrington, you take things easy? I was waiting to see 59 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:32.479 very good you needn't wait to see Go downstairs and 60 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:36.719 do your work. The man walked heavily towards the door, 61 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:39.080 and as he went out of the room he heard 62 00:03:39.080 --> 00:03:41.639 mister Elaine cry after him that if the contract was 63 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:45.000 not copied by evening, mister Crosbie would hear of the matter. 64 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:50.479 He returned to his desk in the lower office and 65 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:53.840 counted the sheets which remained to be copied. He took 66 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:56.479 up his pen and dipped it in the ink, but 67 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:59.400 he continued to stare stupidly at the last words he 68 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:04.080 had written. In no case shall the said Bernard bodily be. 69 00:04:05.960 --> 00:04:08.280 The evening was falling, and in a few minutes they 70 00:04:08.280 --> 00:04:11.800 would be lighting the gas. Then he could write. He 71 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:14.800 felt that he must slake the thirst in his throat. 72 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:17.879 He stood up from his desk, and, lifting the counter 73 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:21.160 as before, passed out of the office. As he was 74 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:25.720 passing out, the chief clerk looked at him inquiringly. It's 75 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:28.879 all right, mister Shelley, said the man, pointing with his 76 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:33.439 finger to indicate the objective of his journey. The chief 77 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:37.240 clerk glanced at the hat rack, but seeing the row complete, 78 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:40.439 offered no remark. As soon as he was on the landing, 79 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:43.199 the man pulled a shepherd's plaid cap out of his pocket, 80 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:45.319 put it on his head, and ran quickly down the 81 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:49.079 rickety stairs from the street door. He walked on furtively 82 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:51.439 on the inner side of the path towards the corner, 83 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:54.560 and all at once dived into a doorway. He was 84 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:57.680 now safe in the dark snug of O'Neill's shop, and 85 00:04:57.720 --> 00:04:59.720 filling up the little window that looked into the bar 86 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:03.160 within his inflamed face the color of dark wine or 87 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:06.839 dark meat, he called out here, pat give us a 88 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:10.839 g p like a good fellow. The curate brought him 89 00:05:10.839 --> 00:05:13.720 a glass of plane porter. The man drank it at 90 00:05:13.759 --> 00:05:17.040 a gulp and asked for a caraway seed. He put 91 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:19.079 his penny on the counter, and, leaving the curate to 92 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:21.519 grope for it in the gloom, retreated out of the 93 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:27.399 snug as furtively as he had entered it. Darkness, accompanied 94 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:31.000 by a thick fog, was gaining upon the dusk of February, 95 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:34.759 and the lamps in Eustace Street had been lit. The 96 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:37.399 man went up by the houses until he reached the 97 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:40.120 door of the office, wondering whether he could finish his 98 00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:45.560 copy in time. On the stairs, a moist, pungent odor 99 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:49.959 of perfume saluted his nose. Evidently, Miss Delacoeur had come 100 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:53.360 while he was out in O'Neill's. He crammed his cap 101 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:56.319 back again into his pocket and re entered the office 102 00:05:56.439 --> 00:06:01.360 assuming an air of absent mindedness. Mister Elaine has been 103 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:04.720 calling for you, said the chief clerk severely. Where were you? 104 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:08.680 The man glanced at the two clients who were standing 105 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:11.279 at the counter, as if to intimate that their presence 106 00:06:11.319 --> 00:06:15.199 prevented him from answering. As the clients were both male. 107 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:19.120 The chief clerk allowed himself a laugh. I know that game, 108 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:22.240 he said, five times in one day is a little bit. Well, 109 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:24.240 you better look sharp and get a copy of our 110 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:29.199 correspondence in the delacour case for mister Elaine. This address 111 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:32.319 in the presence of the public. His run upstairs and 112 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:36.199 the porter he had gulped down so hastily confused the man, 113 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:38.839 and as he sat down at his desk to get 114 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:42.160 what was required, he realized how hopeless was the task 115 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:45.639 of finishing his copy of the contract Before half past five. 116 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:49.560 The dark, damp night was coming, and he longed to 117 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:52.560 spend it in the bars drinking with his friends. Amid 118 00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:56.360 the glare of gas and the clatter of glasses, he 119 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:59.759 got out the Delacour correspondents and passed out of the office. 120 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:02.639 He hoped mister Elaine would not discover that the last 121 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:07.720 two letters were missing. The moist, pungent perfume lay all 122 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:11.560 the way up to mister Elaine's room. Miss Delacour was 123 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:15.519 a middle aged woman of Jewish appearance. Mister Alaine was 124 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:18.160 said to be sweet on her or on her money. 125 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:21.560 She came to the office often and stayed a long time. 126 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:24.759 When she came, she was sitting beside his desk, now 127 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:28.199 in an aroma of perfumes, smoothing the handle of her 128 00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:31.639 umbrella and nodding the great black feather in her hat. 129 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.920 Mister Elaine had swiveled his chair round to face her 130 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:39.360 and thrown his right foot jauntily upon his left knee. 131 00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:44.000 The man put the correspondence on the desk and bowed respectfully, 132 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:47.560 but neither mister Elaine nor Miss Delacour took any notice 133 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:51.319 of his bow. Mister Elaine tapped a finger on the 134 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:54.560 correspondence and then flicked it towards him, as if to say, 135 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:59.240 that's all right, you can go. The man returned to 136 00:07:59.319 --> 00:08:02.360 the lower office and sat down again at his desk. 137 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:07.920 He stared intently at the incomplete phrase in no case 138 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:12.839 shall the said Bernard bodily be, and thought how strange 139 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:15.399 it was that the last three words began with the 140 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:19.560 same letter. The chief clerk began to hurry Miss Parker, 141 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:22.040 saying she would never have the letters typed in time 142 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:25.480 for post. The man listened to the clicking of the 143 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:28.439 machine for a few minutes, and then set to work 144 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.839 to finish his copy. But his head was not clear, 145 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:35.039 and his mind wandered away to the glare and rattle 146 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:38.799 of the public house. It was a night for hot punches. 147 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:42.240 He struggled on with his copy, but when the clock 148 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:47.399 struck five, he had still fourteen pages to write. Blasted, 149 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:52.279 he couldn't finish it in time. He longed to execrate aloud, 150 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:56.639 to bring his fist down on something violently. He was 151 00:08:56.720 --> 00:09:00.000 so enraged that he wrote Bernard Bernard instead of Bernard 152 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:04.440 at Bodley and had to begin again on a clean sheet. 153 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:08.519 He felt strong enough to clear out the whole office 154 00:09:08.559 --> 00:09:13.000 single handed. His body ached to do something, to rush 155 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:16.919 out and revel in violence all the indignities of his 156 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:21.600 life enraged him. Could he ask the cashier privately for 157 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:25.679 an advance? No, the cashier was no good, No damn good. 158 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:29.240 He wouldn't give an advance. He knew where he would 159 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:33.679 meet the boys Leonard and o'halaran and Nosey Flynn. The 160 00:09:33.720 --> 00:09:36.960 barometer of his emotional nature was set for a spell 161 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:42.679 of riot. His imagination had so abstracted him that his 162 00:09:42.840 --> 00:09:46.960 name was called twice before he answered. Mister Elaine and 163 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:50.200 Miss Delacour were standing outside the counter, and all the 164 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:55.279 clerks had turned round in anticipation of something. The man 165 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:59.240 got up from his desk. Mister Elaine began a tirade 166 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:03.360 of abuse, saying that two letters were missing. The man 167 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:05.559 answered that he knew nothing about them, that he had 168 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:08.879 made a faithful copy. The tirade continued. It was so 169 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.879 bitter and violent that the man could hardly restrain his 170 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:15.679 fist from descending upon the head of the mannikin before him. 171 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:20.799 I know nothing about any other two letters, he said, stupidly, 172 00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:25.759 you know nothing. Of course, you know nothing, said mister Alaine. 173 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:28.960 Tell me, he added, glancing first for approval to the 174 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:31.600 lady beside him. Do ye take me for a fool? 175 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:35.799 D'ye think me an utter fool. The man glanced from 176 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:38.720 the lady's face to the little egg shaped head and 177 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:41.519 back again, and almost before he was aware of it, 178 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:46.000 his tongue had found a felicitous moment. I don't think, sir, 179 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:49.360 He said that that's a fair question to put to me. 180 00:10:50.600 --> 00:10:53.480 There was a pause in the very breathing of the clerks. 181 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:57.679 Every one was astounded. The author of the wittessesm no 182 00:10:57.799 --> 00:11:01.559 less than his neighbors, and Miss Callaqueur, who was a stout, 183 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:06.720 amiable person, began to smile broadly. Mister Elaine flushed to 184 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:09.679 the hue of a wild rose, and his mouth twitched 185 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:12.399 with a dwarf's passion. He shook his fist in the 186 00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:15.279 man's face till it seemed to vibrate like the knob 187 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:20.639 of some electric machine. You impertinent, ruffian, You impertinent ruffian. 188 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:23.519 I'll make short work of you. Wait till you see 189 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:26.159 you'll apologize to me for your impertinence, or you'll quit 190 00:11:26.200 --> 00:11:28.480 the office instant her you'll quit this I'm telling you, 191 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:34.039 or you'll apologize to me. He stood in a doorway 192 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:37.279 opposite the office, watching to see if the cashier would 193 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:41.279 come out alone. All the clerks passed out, and finally 194 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:45.080 the cashier came out with chief Clerk. It was no 195 00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:46.799 use trying to say a word to him when he 196 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:50.120 was with the chief clerk. The man felt that his 197 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:53.000 position was bad enough. He had been obliged to offer 198 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:57.600 an abject apology to mister Elaine for his impertinence. But 199 00:11:57.679 --> 00:12:00.120 he knew what a hornet's nest the office would be 200 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:02.879 for him. He could remember the way in which mister 201 00:12:02.919 --> 00:12:05.559 Elaine had hounded little Peak out of the office in 202 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:09.440 order to make room for his own nephew. He felt 203 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:13.879 savage and thirsty and revengeful, annoyed with himself and with 204 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:17.440 every one else. Mister Elaine would never give him an 205 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:20.320 hour's rest. His life would be a hell to him. 206 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:23.720 He had made a proper fool of himself this time. 207 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:27.879 Could he not keep his tongue in his cheek. But 208 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:30.440 they had never pulled together from the first, he and 209 00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:33.840 mister Elaine ever since the day mister Elaine had overheard 210 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:37.440 him mimicking his North of Ireland accent to amuse Higgins 211 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:40.360 and miss Parker. That had been the beginning of it. 212 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:44.720 He might have tried Higgins for the money, but sure 213 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:48.080 Higgins never had anything for himself, a man with two 214 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:52.399 establishments to keep up. Of course, he couldn't. He felt 215 00:12:52.440 --> 00:12:55.120 his great body again aching for the comfort of the 216 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:58.919 public house. The fog had begun to chill him, and 217 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:02.360 he wondered could he touch Pat in O'Neill's. He could 218 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:04.240 not touch him for more than a bob, and a 219 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:07.720 bob was no use. Yet he must get money somewhere 220 00:13:07.799 --> 00:13:10.120 or other. He had spent his last penny for the 221 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:12.799 g P, and soon it would be too late for 222 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:17.559 getting money anywhere. Suddenly, as he was fingering his watch chain, 223 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:20.480 he thought of Terry Kelly's pawn office in Fleet Street. 224 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:23.320 That was a dart. Why didn't he think of it sooner? 225 00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:26.440 He went through the narrow alley of Temple Bar, quickly 226 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:28.759 muttering to himself that they could all go to hell, 227 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:30.559 because he was going to have a good night of it. 228 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:34.039 The clerk in Terry Kelly's said a crown, but the 229 00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:37.159 consigner held out for six shillings, and in the end 230 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:40.919 the six shillings was allowed him. Literally, he came out 231 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:43.639 of the pawn office joyfully, making a little cylinder of 232 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:47.759 the coins between his thumb and fingers. In Westmoreland Street. 233 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:50.720 The footpaths were crowded with young men and women returning 234 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:54.200 from business, and ragged urchins ran here and there, yelling 235 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:57.559 out the names of the evening editions. The man passed 236 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:00.759 through the crowd, looking on the spectacle General with proud 237 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:05.240 satisfaction and staring masterfully at the office girls. His head 238 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:08.519 was full of the noises of tram gongs and swishing trolleys, 239 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:12.240 and his nose already sniffed the curling fumes of punch. 240 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:15.879 As he walked on, he preconsidered the terms in which 241 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:19.799 he would narrate the incident to the boys. So I 242 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:22.360 just looked at him coolly, you know, and looked at her. 243 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:24.720 Then I looked back at him again, taking my time. 244 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:27.679 You know, I don't think that that's a fair question 245 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:31.759 to put to me, says I Nosey. Flynn was sitting 246 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:34.720 up in his usual corner of Davy Byrne's, and when 247 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:37.399 he heard the story, he stood Farrington a half one, 248 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:39.960 saying it was as smart a thing as ever he heard. 249 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:44.240 Farrington stood a drink in his turn. After a while 250 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:46.799 o'haleran and Paddy Leonard came in and the story was 251 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:50.879 repeated to them. Oh Halleran stood tailors of malt hot 252 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:53.240 all round and told the story of the retort he 253 00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:55.000 had made to the chief clerk when he was in 254 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:58.320 Callons of Fowns Street. But as the retort was after 255 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:01.080 the manner of the liberal shepherds in Thegs, he had 256 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:03.799 to admit that it was not as clever as Farrington's retort. 257 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:07.360 At this Farrington told the boys to polish off that 258 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:10.960 and have another. Just as they were naming their poisons, 259 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:13.879 who should come in but Higgins, of course, he had 260 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:15.840 to join in with the others. The men asked him 261 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:17.759 to get his version of it, and he did so 262 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:20.879 with great vivacity, for the sight of five small hot 263 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:25.720 whiskies was very exhilarating. Everyone roared laughing when he showed 264 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:27.720 the way in which mister Elaine shook his fist in 265 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:32.519 Farrington's face. Then he imitated Farrington saying, and here was 266 00:15:32.600 --> 00:15:35.639 my nabs, as cool as you please, while Farrington looked 267 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:38.600 at the company out of his heavy dirty eyes, smiling 268 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:41.360 and at times drawing forth stray drops of liquor from 269 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:45.200 his mustache with the aid of his lower lip. When 270 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:49.600 that round was over, there was a pause O'Halleran had money, 271 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:51.759 but neither of the other two seemed to have any, 272 00:15:52.120 --> 00:15:56.440 so the whole party left the shop somewhat regretfully. At 273 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:59.240 the corner of Duke Street, Higgins and Nosey Flynn beveled 274 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:01.399 off to the left, while the other three turned back 275 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:05.480 towards the city. Rain was drizzling down on the cold streets, 276 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:09.360 and when they reached the Ballast Office, Farrington suggested the 277 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:12.759 Scotch House. The bar was full of men and loud 278 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:16.159 with the noise of tongues and glasses. The three men 279 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:19.120 pushed past the whining match cellars at the door and 280 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:21.320 formed a little party at the corner of the counter. 281 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:25.600 They began to exchange stories. Leonard introduced them to a 282 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:28.279 young fellow named Weathers, who was performing at the Tivoli 283 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:32.279 as an acrobat and knock about artiste. Farrington stood a 284 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:35.080 drink all round. Weathers said he would take a small 285 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:39.159 irish and a pollinaris. Farrington, who had definite notions of 286 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:41.600 what was what, asked the boys would they have an 287 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:44.559 apollinaris too, but the boys told Tim to make theirs hot. 288 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:49.840 The talk became theatrical. O'Halleran stood around and then Farrington 289 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:53.960 stood another round Weathers protesting that the hospitality was too irish. 290 00:16:54.919 --> 00:16:57.080 He promised to get them in behind the scenes and 291 00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:01.000 introduce them to some nice girls. O'haleran said that he 292 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.440 and Leonard would go, but that Farrington wouldn't go because 293 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:06.519 he was a married man, and Farrington's heavy, dirty eyes 294 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:09.519 leered at the company in token that he understood he 295 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:13.200 was being shaffed. Weathers made them all have just one 296 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:16.000 little tincture at his expense and promised to meet them 297 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:21.519 later on at Mulligan's in Poolbeg Street. When the Scotch 298 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:24.799 house closed, they went round to Mulligan's. They went into 299 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:28.319 the parlor at the back and o'haleran ordered small hot 300 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:31.759 specials all round. They were all beginning to feel mellow. 301 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:36.319 Farrington was just standing another round when Weathers came back. 302 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:40.200 Much to Farrington's relief, he drank a glass of bitter. 303 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:43.039 This time. Funds were getting low, but they had enough 304 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:46.799 to keep them going. Presently, two young women with big 305 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.880 hats and a young man in the check suit came 306 00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:52.799 in and sat at a table close by. Weathers saluted 307 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:54.799 them and told the company that they were out of 308 00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:59.000 the Tivoli. Farrington's eyes wandered at every moment in the 309 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:01.799 direction of one of the young women. There was something 310 00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:06.079 striking in her appearance. An immense scarf of peacock blue 311 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:09.640 muslin was wound round her hat and knotted in a 312 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:12.880 great bow under her chin, and she wore bright yellow 313 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:17.559 gloves reaching to the elbow. Farrington gazed admiringly at the 314 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:21.680 plump arm, which she moved very often and with much grace. 315 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:25.160 And when after a little time she answered his gaze, 316 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:30.559 he admired still more her large, dark brown eyes. The oblique, 317 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:35.240 staring expression in them fascinated him. She glanced at him 318 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:38.000 once or twice, and when the party was leaving the room, 319 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:42.279 she brushed against his chair and said, oh, pardon, in 320 00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:45.720 a London accent. He watched her leave the room in 321 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:48.279 the hope that she would look back at him, but 322 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:52.119 he was disappointed. He cursed his want of money, and 323 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:55.599 cursed all the rounds he had stood, particularly all the 324 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:59.119 whiskies in Apollinaris, which she had stood to weathers. If 325 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:00.680 there was one thing that he he hated, it was 326 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:03.759 a sponge. He was so angry that he lost count 327 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:08.599 of the conversation of his friends. When Paddy Leonard called him, 328 00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:11.240 he found that they were talking about feats of strength. 329 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:15.400 Weathers was showing his biceps muscle to the company and 330 00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:17.799 boasting so much that the other two had called on 331 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:22.279 Farrington to uphold the national honor. Farrington pulled up his 332 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:25.279 sleeve accordingly and showed his biceps muscle to the company. 333 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:28.240 The two arms were examined and compared, and finally it 334 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:31.240 was agreed to have a trial of strength. The table 335 00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:33.480 was cleared and the two men rested their elbows on it, 336 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:37.160 clasping hands. When Paddy Leonard said go, each was to 337 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:39.599 try to bring down the other's hand on to the table. 338 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:46.240 Farrington looked very serious and determined. The trial began. After 339 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:50.359 about thirty seconds, Weathers brought his opponent's hand slowly down 340 00:19:50.440 --> 00:19:55.640 on to the table. Farrington's dark wine colored face flushed darker, 341 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:59.480 still with anger and humiliation at having been defeated by 342 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:02.720 such a s grippling. You're not to put the weight 343 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:06.400 of your body behind it. Play fair, he said. Who's 344 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:10.400 not playing fair? Said the other? Come on again, the 345 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:14.680 two best out of three. The trial began again. The 346 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:17.920 veins stood out on Farrington's forehead and the pallor of 347 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:22.480 Weather's complexion changed to paeony. Their hands and arms trembled 348 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:25.559 under the stress. After a long struggle, Weathers again brought 349 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:29.200 his opponent's hand slowly on to the table. There was 350 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:33.039 a murmur of applause from the spectators. The curate, who 351 00:20:33.119 --> 00:20:36.359 was standing beside the table, nodded his red head towards 352 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:40.880 the victor and said, with stupid familiarity. Ah, that's the knack. 353 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:44.200 What the hell do you know about it? Said Farrington, fiercely, 354 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:46.599 turning on the man. What do you put in your 355 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:51.599 gap for ssh said O'Halloran, observing the violent expression of 356 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:55.599 Farrington's face. Pony up, boys, We'll have just one little 357 00:20:55.599 --> 00:21:00.119 smahan more and then we'll be off A very A 358 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:03.880 sullen faced man stood at the corner of O'Connell Bridge, 359 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:06.680 waiting for the little Sandymount tram to take him home. 360 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:12.759 He was full of smoldering anger and revengefulness. He felt 361 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:17.160 humiliated and discontented. He did not even feel drunk, and 362 00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:20.920 he had only tuppence in his pocket. He cursed everything 363 00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:24.880 he had done for himself in the office, pawned his watch, 364 00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:28.039 spent all his money, and he had not even got drunk. 365 00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:31.880 He began to feel thirsty again, and he longed to 366 00:21:31.920 --> 00:21:35.200 be back again in the hot Reeking public house. He 367 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.640 had lost his reputation as a strong man, having been 368 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:43.359 defeated twice by a mere boy. His heart swelled with fury, 369 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.720 and when he thought of the woman in the big 370 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:48.720 hat who had brushed against him and said pardon, his 371 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:53.079 fury nearly choked him. His tram let him down at 372 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:56.359 Shelbourne Road, and he steered his great body along in 373 00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:59.599 the shadow of the wall of the barracks. He loathed 374 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:02.759 returned to his home. When he went in by the 375 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:06.000 side door, he found the kitchen empty and the kitchen 376 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:10.279 fire nearly out. He bawled upstairs. 377 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.160 Aida. 378 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:16.680 Aida, his wife, was a little, sharp faced woman who 379 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:19.119 bullied her husband when he was sober, and was bullied 380 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:22.720 by him when he was drunk. They had five children. 381 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:25.799 A little boy came running down the stairs. Who is that? 382 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:30.200 Said the man peering through the darkness. Me, Pa, who 383 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:34.880 are you Charley? No, Pa, Tom, where's your mother? She's 384 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:37.359 out at the chapel. That's right. Did you think of 385 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.519 even any dinner for me? 386 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:39.680 Yes? 387 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:42.160 Pa, I light the lamp. What do you mean by 388 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:45.240 having the place in darkness are the other children in bed? 389 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:48.559 The man sat down heavily on one of the chairs 390 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:51.519 while the little boy lit the lamp. He began to 391 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:55.759 mimic his son's flat accent, saying half to himself, at 392 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:59.680 the chapel, at the chapel, if you'll please. When the 393 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:02.319 lamp was lit, he banged his fist on the table 394 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:06.880 and shouted, what's for my dinner? I'm going to cook it, pa, 395 00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:10.240 said the little boy. The man jumped up furiously and 396 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:12.880 pointed to the fire. On that fire, you'll let the 397 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:15.759 fire out, By God, I'll teach you to do that again. 398 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:19.079 He took a step to the door and seized the 399 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:22.640 walking stick, which was standing behind it. I'll teach you 400 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:25.279 to let the fire out, he said, rolling up his 401 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:28.599