第11章
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  SidebysidewithhismemoryofthedeedsofprowessofhisuncleMatDavin,theathlete,theyoungpeasantworshippedthesorrowfullegendofIreland。Thegossipofhisfellow-studentswhichstrovetorendertheflatlifeofthecollegesignificantatanycostlovedtothinkofhimasayoungfenian。HisnursehadtaughthimIrishandshapedhisrudeimaginationbythebrokenlightsofIrishmyth。HestoodtowardsthemythuponwhichnoindividualmindhadeverdrawnoutalineofbeautyandtoitsunwieldytalesthatdividedagainstthemselvesastheymoveddownthecyclesinthesameattitudeastowardstheRomancatholicreligion,theattitudeofadull-wittedloyalserf。WhatsoeverofthoughtoroffeelingcametohimfromEnglandorbywayofEnglishculturehismindstoodarmedagainstinobediencetoapassword;andoftheworldthatlaybeyondEnglandheknewonlytheforeignlegionofFranceinwhichhespokeofserving。

  Couplingthisambitionwiththeyoungman\'shumourStephenhadoftencalledhimoneofthetamegeeseandtherewasevenapointofirritationinthenamepointedagainstthatveryreluctanceofspeechanddeedinhisfriendwhichseemedsooftentostandbetweenStephen\'smind,eagerofspeculation,andthehiddenwaysofIrishlife。

  Onenighttheyoungpeasant,hisspiritstungbytheviolentorluxuriouslanguageinwhichStephenescapedfromthecoldsilenceofintellectualrevolt,hadcalledupbeforeStephen\'smindastrangevision。ThetwowerewalkingslowlytowardsDavin\'sroomsthroughthedarknarrowstreetsofthepoorerjews——

  Athinghappenedtomyself,Stevie,lastautumn,comingonwinter,andInevertoldittoalivingsoulandyouarethefirstpersonnowI

  evertolditto。IdisrememberifitwasOctoberorNovember。ItwasOctoberbecauseitwasbeforeIcameupheretojointhematriculationclass。

  Stephenhadturnedhissmilingeyestowardshisfriend\'sface,flatteredbyhisconfidenceandwonovertosympathybythespeaker\'ssimpleaccent——

  IwasawayallthatdayfrommyownplaceoverinButtevant——

  Idon\'tknowifyouknowwherethatis-atahurlingmatchbetweentheCroke\'sOwnBoysandtheFearlessThurlesandbyGod,Stevie,thatwasthehardfight。Myfirstcousin,FonsyDavin,wasstrippedtohisbuffthatdaymindingcoolfortheLimericksbuthewasupwiththeforwardshalfthetimeandshoutinglikemad。Ineverwillforgetthatday。OneoftheCrokesmadeawoefulwipeathimonetimewithhiscamanandIdeclaretoGodhewaswithinanaim\'saceofgettingitatthesideofhistemple。

  Oh,honesttoGod,ifthecrookofitcaughthimthattimehewasdonefor——

  Iamgladheescaped,Stephenhadsaidwithalaugh,butsurelythat\'snotthestrangethingthathappenedyou?-Well,Isupposethatdoesn\'tinterestyou,butleastwaystherewassuchnoiseafterthematchthatI

  missedthetrainhomeandIcouldn\'tgetanykindofayoketogivemealiftfor,asluckwouldhaveit,therewasamassmeetingthatsamedayoverinCastletownrocheandallthecarsinthecountrywerethere。Sotherewasnothingforitonlytostaythenightortofootitout。Well,IstartedtowalkandonIwentanditwascomingonnightwhenIgotintotheBallyhourahills,that\'sbetterthantenmilesfromKilmallockandthere\'salonglonelyroadafterthat。Youwouldn\'tseethesignofachristianhousealongtheroadorhearasound。Itwaspitchdarkalmost。OnceortwiceIstoppedbythewayunderabushtoreddenmypipeandonlyforthedewwasthickI\'dhavestretchedoutthereandslept。Atlast,afterabendoftheroad,Ispiedalittlecottagewithalightinthewindow。

  Iwentupandknockedatthedoor。AvoiceaskedwhowasthereandIansweredIwasoveratthematchinButtevantandwaswalkingbackandthatI\'dbethankfulforaglassofwater。Afterawhileayoungwomanopenedthedoorandbroughtmeoutabigmugofmilk。ShewashalfundressedasifshewasgoingtobedwhenIknockedandshehadherhairhangingandI

  thoughtbyherfigureandbysomethinginthelookofhereyesthatshemustbecarryingachild。Shekeptmeintalkalongwhileatthedoor,andIthoughtitstrangebecauseherbreastandhershoulderswerebare。

  SheaskedmewasItiredandwouldIliketostopthenightthere。ShesaidshewasallaloneinthehouseandthatherhusbandhadgonethatmorningtoQueenstownwithhissistertoseeheroff。Andallthetimeshewastalking,Stevie,shehadhereyesfixedonmyfaceandshestoodsoclosetomeIcouldhearherbreathing。WhenIhandedherbackthemugatlastshetookmyhandtodrawmeinoverthethresholdandsaid:`Comeinandstaythenighthere。You\'venocalltobefrightened。There\'snooneinitbutourselves。\'Ididn\'tgoin,Stevie。Ithankedherandwentonmywayagain,allinafever。AtthefirstbendoftheroadIlookedbackandshewasstandingatthedoor。

  ThelastwordsofDavin\'sstorysanginhismemoryandthefigureofthewomaninthestorystoodforthreflectedinotherfiguresofthepeasantwomenwhomhehadseenstandinginthedoorwaysatClaneasthecollegecarsdroveby,asatypeofherraceandofhisown,abat-likesoulwakingtotheconsciousnessofitselfindarknessandsecrecyandlonelinessand,throughtheeyesandvoiceandgestureofawomanwithoutguile,callingthestrangertoherbed。

  Ahandwaslaidonhisarmandayoungvoicecried:——

  Ah,gentleman,yourowngirl,sir!Thefirsthandseltoday,gentleman。

  Buythatlovelybunch。Willyou,gentleman?

  Theblueflowerswhichsheliftedtowardshimandheryoungblueeyesseemedtohimatthatinstantimagesofguilelessness,andhehaltedtilltheimagehadvanishedandhesawonlyherraggeddressanddampcoarsehairandhoydenishface——

  Do,gentleman!Don\'tforgetyourowngirl,sir!——

  Ihavenomoney,saidStephen——

  Buythemlovelyones,willyou,sir?Onlyapenny——

  DidyouhearwhatIsaid?askedStephen,bendingtowardsher。

  ItoldyouIhadnomoney。Itellyouagainnow——

  Well,sure,youwillsomeday,sir,pleaseGod,thegirlansweredafteraninstant——

  Possibly,saidStephen,butIdon\'tthinkitlikely——

  Heleftherquickly,fearingthatherintimacymightturntojibingandwishingtobeoutofthewaybeforesheofferedherwaretoanother,atouristfromEnglandorastudentofTrinity。GraftonStreet,alongwhichhewalked,prolongedthatmomentofdiscouragedpoverty。IntheroadwayattheheadofthestreetaslabwassettothememoryofWolfeToneandherememberedhavingbeenpresentwithhisfatheratitslaying。Herememberedwithbitternessthatsceneoftawdrytribute。TherewerefourFrenchdelegatesinabrakeandone,aplumpsmilingyoungman,held,wedgedonastick,acardonwhichwereprintedthewords:Vivel\'Irlande!

  ButthetreesinStephen\'sGreenwerefragrantofrainandtherain-soddenearthgaveforthitsmortalodour,afaintincenserisingupwardthroughthemouldfrommanyhearts。ThesoulofthegallantvenalcitywhichhiseldershadtoldhimofhadshrunkwithtimetoafaintmortalodourrisingfromtheearthandheknewthatinamomentwhenheenteredthesombrecollegehewouldbeconsciousofacorruptionotherthanthatofBuckEganandBurnchapelWhaley。

  ItwastoolatetogoupstairstotheFrenchclass。Hecrossedthehallandtookthecorridortotheleftwhichledtothephysicstheatre。Thecorridorwasdarkandsilentbutnotunwatchful。Whydidhefeelthatitwasnotunwatchful?WasitbecausehehadheardthatinBuckWhaley\'stimetherewasasecretstaircasethere?Orwasthejesuithouseextra-territorialandwashewalkingamongaliens?TheIrelandofToneandofParnellseemedtohaverecededinspace。

  Heopenedthedoorofthetheatreandhaltedinthechillygreylightthatstruggledthroughthedustywindows。Afigurewascrouchingbeforethelargegrateandbyitsleannessandgreynessheknewthatitwasthedeanofstudieslightingthefire。Stephenclosedthedoorquietlyandapproachedthefireplace——

  Goodmorning,sir!CanIhelpyou?

  Thepriestlookedupquicklyandsaid:——

  Onemomentnow,MrDedalus,andyouwillsee。Thereisanartinlightingafire。Wehavetheliberalartsandwehavetheusefularts。

  Thisisoneoftheusefularts——

  Iwilltrytolearnit,saidStephen——

  Nottoomuchcoal,saidthedean,workingbrisklyathistask,thatisoneofthesecrets。

  Heproducedfourcandle-buttsfromtheside-pocketsofhissoutaneandplacedthemdeftlyamongthecoalsandtwistedpapers。Stephenwatchedhiminsilence。Kneelingthusontheflagstonetokindlethefireandbusiedwiththedispositionofhiswispsofpaperandcandle-buttsheseemedmorethaneverahumbleservermakingreadytheplaceofsacrificeinanemptytemple,aleviteoftheLord。Likealevite\'srobeofplainlinenthefadedwornsoutanedrapedthekneelingfigureofonewhomthecanonicalsorthebell-borderedephodwouldirkandtrouble。HisverybodyhadwaxedoldinlowlyserviceoftheLord-intendingthefireuponthealtar,inbearingtidingssecretly,inwaitinguponworldlings,instrikingswiftlywhenbidden-andyethadremainedungracedbyaughtofsaintlyorofprelaticbeauty。Nay,hisverysoulhadwaxedoldinthatservicewithoutgrowingtowardslightandbeautyorspreadingabroadasweetodourofhersanctity-amortifiedwillnomoreresponsivetothethrillofitsobediencethanwastothethrillofloveorcombathisageingbody,spareandsinewy,greyedwithasilver-pointeddown。

  Thedeanrestedbackonhishunkersandwatchedthestickscatch。Stephen,tofillthesilence,said:——

  IamsureIcouldnotlightafire——

  Youareanartist,areyounot,MrDedalus?saidthedean,glancingupandblinkinghispaleeyes。Theobjectoftheartististhecreationofthebeautiful。Whatthebeautifulisisanotherquestion。

  Herubbedhishandsslowlyanddrilyoverthedifficulty——

  Canyousolvethatquestionnow?heasked——

  Aquinas,answeredStephen,sayspulcrasuntquaevisaplacent——

  Thisfirebeforeus,saidthedean,willbepleasingtotheeye。

  Willitthereforebebeautiful?——

  Insofarasitisapprehendedbythesight,whichIsupposemeanshereestheticintellection,itwillbebeautiful。ButAquinasalsosaysBonumestinquodtenditappetitus。Insofarasitsatisfiestheanimalcravingforwarmthfireisagood。Inhell,however,itisanevil——

  Quiteso,saidthedean,youhavecertainlyhitthenailonthehead。

  Herosenimblyandwenttowardsthedoor,setitajarandsaid:——

  Adraughtissaidtobeahelpinthesematters。

  Ashecamebacktothehearth,limpingslightlybutwithabriskstep,Stephensawthesilentsoulofajesuitlookoutathimfromthepalelovelesseyes。LikeIgnatiushewaslamebutinhiseyesburnednosparkofIgnatius\'senthusiasm。Eventhelegendarycraftofthecompany,acraftsubtlerandmoresecretthanitsfabledbooksofsecretsubtlewisdom,hadnotfiredhissoulwiththeenergyofapostleship。Itseemedasifheusedtheshiftsandloreandcunningoftheworld,asbiddentodo,forthegreatergloryofGod,withoutjoyintheirhandlingorhatredofthatinthemwhichwasevilbutturningthem,withafirmgestureofobediencebackuponthemselvesandforallthissilentserviceitseemedasifhelovednotatallthemasterandlittle,ifatall,theendsheserved。Similiteratquesenisbaculus,hewas,asthefounderwouldhavehadhim,likeastaffinanoldman\'shand,tobeleanedonintheroadatnightfallorinstressofweather,toliewithalady\'snosegayonagardenseat,toberaisedinmenace。

  Thedeanreturnedtothehearthandbegantostrokehischin——

  Whenmayweexpecttohavesomethingfromyouontheestheticquestion?

  heasked——

  Fromme!saidStepheninastonishment。IstumbleonanideaonceafortnightifIamlucky——

  Thesequestionsareveryprofound,MrDedalus,saidthedean。ItislikelookingdownfromthecliffsofMoherintothedepths。Manygodownintothedepthsandnevercomeup。Onlythetraineddivercangodownintothosedepthsandexplorethemandcometothesurfaceagain——

  Ifyoumeanspeculation,sir,saidStephen,Ialsoamsurethatthereisnosuchthingasfreethinkinginasmuchasallthinkingmustbeboundbyitsownlaws——

  Ha!——

  FormypurposeIcanworkonatpresentbythelightofoneortwoideasofAristotleandAquinas——

  Isee。Iquiteseeyourpoint——

  IneedthemonlyformyownuseandguidanceuntilIhavedonesomethingformyselfbytheirlight。IfthelampsmokesorsmellsIshalltrytotrimit。IfitdoesnotgivelightenoughIshallsellitandbuyanother——

  Epictetusalsohadalamp,saidthedean,whichwassoldforafancypriceafterhisdeath。Itwasthelamphewrotehisphilosophicaldissertationsby。YouknowEpictetus?——

  Anoldgentleman,saidStephencoarsely,whosaidthatthesoulisverylikeabucketfulofwater——

  Hetellsusinhishomelyway,thedeanwenton,thatheputanironlampbeforeastatueofoneofthegodsandthatathiefstolethelamp。

  Whatdidthephilosopherdo?Hereflectedthatitwasinthecharacterofathieftostealanddeterminedtobuyanearthenlampnextdayinsteadoftheironlamp。

  Asmellofmoltentallowcameupfromthedean\'scandlebuttsandfuseditselfinStephen\'sconsciousnesswiththejingleofthewords,bucketandlampandlampandbucket。Thepriest\'svoice,too,hadahardjinglingtone。Stephen\'smindhaltedbyinstinct,checkedbythestrangetoneandtheimageryandbythepriest\'sfacewhichseemedlikeanunlitlamporareflectorhunginafalsefocus。Whatlaybehinditorwithinit?Adulltorporofthesoulorthedullnessofthethundercloud,chargedwithintellectionandcapableofthegloomofGod?——

  Imeantadifferentkindoflamp,sir,saidStephen——

  Undoubtedly,saidthedean——

  Onedifficulty,saidStephen,inestheticdiscussionistoknowwhetherwordsarebeingusedaccordingtotheliterarytraditionoraccordingtothetraditionofthemarketplace。IrememberasentenceofNewman\'sinwhichhesaysoftheBlessedVirginthatshewasdetainedinthefullcompanyofthesaints。Theuseofthewordinthemarketplaceisquitedifferent。IhopeIamnotdetainingyou——

  Notintheleast,saidthedeanpolitely——

  No,no,saidStephen,smiling,Imean——

  Yes,yes;Isee,saidthedeanquickly,Iquitecatchthepoint:detain。

  Hethrustforwardhisunderjawandutteredadryshortcough——

  Toreturntothelamp,hesaid,thefeedingofitisalsoaniceproblem。Youmustchoosethepureoilandyoumustbecarefulwhenyoupouritinnottooverflowit,nottopourinmorethanthefunnelcanhold——

  Whatfunnel?askedStephen——

  Thefunnelthroughwhichyoupourtheoilintoyourlamp——

  That?saidStephen。Isthatcalledafunnel?Isitnotatundish?——

  Whatisatundish?——

  That。Thefunnel——

  IsthatcalledatundishinIreland?askedthedean。Ineverheardthewordinmylife——

  ItiscalledatundishinLowerDrumcondra,saidStephen,laughing,wheretheyspeakthebestEnglish——

  Atundish,saidthedeanreflectively。Thatisamostinterestingword。Imustlookthatwordup。UponmywordImust。

  HiscourtesyofmannerrangalittlefalseandStephenlookedattheEnglishconvertwiththesameeyesastheelderbrotherintheparablemayhaveturnedontheprodigal。Ahumblefollowerinthewakeofclamorousconversions,apoorEnglishmaninIreland,heseemedtohaveenteredonthestageofjesuithistorywhenthatstrangeplayofintrigueandsufferingandenvyandstruggleandindignityhadbeenallbutgiventhrough-alate-comer,atardyspirit。Fromwhathadhesetout?Perhapshehadbeenbornandbredamongseriousdissenters,seeingsalvationinJesusonlyandabhorringthevainpompsoftheestablishment。Hadhefelttheneedofanimplicitfaithamidthewelterofsectarianismandthejargonofitsturbulentschisms,sixprinciplemen,peculiarpeople,seedandsnakebaptists,supralapsariandogmatists?Hadhefoundthetruechurchallofasuddeninwindinguptotheendlikeareelofcottonsomefine-spunlineofreasoninguponinsufflationontheimpositionofhandsortheprocessionoftheHolyGhost?OrhadLordChristtouchedhimandbiddenhimfollow,likethatdisciplewhohadsatatthereceiptofcustom,ashesatbythedoorofsomezinc-roofedchapel,yawningandtellingoverhischurchpence?

  Thedeanrepeatedthewordyetagain——

  Tundish!Wellnow,thatisinteresting!——

  Thequestionyouaskedmeamomentagoseemstomemoreinteresting。

  Whatisthatbeautywhichtheartiststrugglestoexpressfromlumpsofearth,saidStephencoldly——

  Thelittlewordseemedtohaveturnedarapierpointofhissensitivenessagainstthiscourteousandvigilantfoe。HefeltwithasmartofdejectionthatthemantowhomhewasspeakingwasacountrymanofBenJonson。Hethought:——

  Thelanguageinwhichwearespeakingishisbeforeitismine。Howdifferentarethewordshome,Christ,ale,master,onhislipsandonmine!Icannotspeakorwritethesewordswithoutunrestofspirit。Hislanguage,sofamiliarandsoforeign,willalwaysbeformeanacquiredspeech。Ihavenotmadeoraccepteditswords。Myvoiceholdsthematbay。Mysoulfretsintheshadowofhislanguage——

  Andtodistinguishbetweenthebeautifulandthesublime,thedeanadded,todistinguishbetweenmoralbeautyandmaterialbeauty。Andtoinquirewhatkindofbeautyispropertoeachofthevariousarts。Thesearesomeinterestingpointswemighttakeup。

  Stephen,disheartenedsuddenlybythedean\'sfirm,drytone,wassilent;

  andthroughthesilenceadistantnoiseofmanybootsandconfusedvoicescameupthestaircase——

  Inpursuingthesespeculations,saidthedeanconclusively,thereis,however,thedangerofperishingofinanition。Firstyoumusttakeyourdegree。Setthatbeforeyouasyourfirstaim。Then,littlebylittle,youwillseeyourway。Imeanineverysense,yourwayinlifeandinthinking。

  Itmaybeuphillpedallingatfirst。TakeMrMoonan。Hewasalongtimebeforehegottothetop。Buthegotthere——

  Imaynothavehistalent,saidStephenquietly——

  Youneverknow,saidthedeanbrightly。Wenevercansaywhatisinus。Imostcertainlyshouldnotbedespondent。Perasperaadastra。

  Heleftthehearthquicklyandwenttowardsthelandingtooverseethearrivalofthefirstarts\'class。

  LeaningagainstthefireplaceStephenheardhimgreetbrisklyandimpartiallyeveryStudentoftheclassandcouldalmostseethefranksmilesofthecoarserstudents。Adesolatingpitybegantofalllikedewuponhiseasilyembitteredheartforthisfaithfulserving-manoftheknightlyLoyola,forthishalf-brotheroftheclergy,morevenalthantheyinspeech,moresteadfastofsoulthanthey,onewhomhewouldnevercallhisghostlyfather;

  andhethoughthowthismanandhiscompanionshadearnedthenameofworldlingsatthehandsnotoftheunworldlyonlybutoftheworldlyalsoforhavingpleaded,duringalltheirhistory,atthebarofGod\'sjusticeforthesoulsofthelaxandthelukewarmandtheprudent。

  TheentryoftheprofessorwassignalledbyafewroundsofKentishfirefromtheheavybootsofthosestudentswhosatonthehighesttierofthegloomytheatreunderthegreycobwebbedwindows。ThecallingoftherollbeganandtheresponsestothenamesweregivenoutinalltonesuntilthenameofPeterByrnewasreached——

  Here!

  Adeepbassnoteinresponsecamefromtheuppertier,followedbycoughsofprotestalongtheotherbenches。

  Theprofessorpausedinhisreadingandcalledthenextname:——

  Cranly!

  Noanswer——

  MrCranly!

  AsmileflewacrossStephen\'sfaceashethoughtofhisfriend\'sstudies——

  TryLeopardstown!Saidavoicefromthebenchbehind。StephenglancedupquicklybutMoynihan\'ssnoutishface,outlinedonthegreylight,wasimpassive。Aformulawasgivenout。AmidtherustlingofthenotebooksStephenturnedbackagainandsaid:——

  GivemesomepaperforGod\'ssake。

  Areyouasbadasthat?askedMoynihanwithabroadgrin。

  Hetoreasheetfromhisscribblerandpasseditdown,whispering:——

  Incaseofnecessityanylaymanorwomancandoit。

  Theformulawhichhewroteobedientlyonthesheetofpaper,thecoilinganduncoilingcalculationsoftheprofessor,thespectre-likesymbolsofforceandvelocityfascinatedandjadedStephen\'smind。Hehadheardsomesaythattheoldprofessorwasanatheistfreemason。Othegreydullday!

  Itseemedalimboofpainlesspatientconsciousnessthroughwhichsoulsofmathematiciansmightwander,projectinglongslenderfabricsfromplanetoplaneofeverrarerandpalertwilight,radiatingswifteddiestothelastvergesofauniverseevervaster,fartherandmoreimpalpable——

  Sowemustdistinguishbetweenellipticalandellipsoidal。PerhapssomeofyougentlemenmaybefamiliarwiththeworksofMrW。S。Gilbert。

  Inoneofhissongshespeaksofthebilliardsharpwhoiscondemnedtoplay:OnaclothuntrueWithatwistedcueAndellipticalbilliardballs——HemeansaballhavingtheformoftheellipsoidoftheprincipalaxesofwhichIspokeamomentago。

  MoynihanleaneddowntowardsStephen\'searandmurmured:——

  Whatpriceellipsoidalballs!chaseme,ladies,I\'minthecavalry!

  Hisfellowstudent\'srudehumourranlikeagustthroughthecloisterofStephen\'smind,shakingintogaylifelimppriestlyvestmentsthathunguponthewalls,settingthemtoswayandcaperinasabbathofmisrule。

  Theformsofthecommunityemergedfromthegust-blownvestments,thedeanofstudies,theportlyfloridbursarwithhiscapofgreyhair,thepresident,thelittlepriestwithfeatheryhairwhowrotedevoutverses,thesquatpeasantformoftheprofessorofeconomics,thetallformoftheyoungprofessorofmentalsciencediscussingonthelandingacaseofconsciencewithhisclasslikeagiraffecroppinghighleafageamongaherdofantelopes,thegravetroubledprefectofthesodality,theplumpround-headedprofessorofItalianwithhisrogue\'seyes。Theycameamblingandstumbling,tumblingandcapering,kiltingtheirgownsforleapfrog,holdingoneanotherback,shakenwithdeepfalselaughter,smackingoneanotherbehindandlaughingattheirrudemalice,callingtooneanotherbyfamiliarnicknames,protestingwithsuddendignityatsomeroughusage,whisperingtwoandtwobehindtheirhands。

  Theprofessorhadgonetotheglasscasesonthesidewall,fromashelfofwhichhetookdownasetofcoils,blewawaythedustfrommanypointsand,bearingitcarefullytothetable,heldafingeronitwhileheproceededwithhislecture。HeexplainedthatthewiresinmoderncoilswereofacompoundcalledplatinoidlatelydiscoveredbyF。W。Martino。

  Hespokeclearlytheinitialsandsurnameofthediscoverer。Moynihanwhisperedfrombehind:——

  GoodoldFreshWaterMartin!——

  Askhim,Stephenwhisperedbackwithwearyhumour,ifhewantsasubjectforelectrocution。Hecanhaveme。

  Moynihan,seeingtheprofessorbendoverthecoils,roseinhisbenchand,clackingnoiselesslythefingersofhisrighthand,begantocallwiththevoiceofaslobberingurchin——

  Pleaseteacher!Thisboyisaftersayingabadword,teacher——

  Platinoid,theprofessorsaidsolemnly,ispreferredtoGermansilverbecauseithasalowercoefficientofresistancebychangesoftemperature。

  Theplatinoidwireisinsulatedandthecoveringofsilkthatinsulatesitiswoundontheebonitebobbinsjustwheremyfingeris。Ifitwerewoundsingleanextracurrentwouldbeinducedinthecoils。ThebobbinsaresaturatedinhotparaffinwaxAsharpUlstervoicesaidfromthebenchbelowStephen:——

  Arewelikelytobeaskedquestionsonappliedscience?

  Theprofessorbegantojugglegravelywiththetermspurescienceandappliedscience。Aheavy-builtstudent,wearinggoldspectacles,staredwithsomewonderatthequestioner。Moynihanmurmuredfrombehindinhisnaturalvoice:——

  Isn\'tMacAlisteradevilforhispoundofflesh?

  StephenlookedcoldlyontheoblongSkullbeneathhimovergrownwithtangledtwine-colouredhair。Thevoice,theaccent,themindofthequestioneroffendedhimandheallowedtheoffencetocarryhimtowardswilfulunkindness,biddinghismindthinkthatthestudent\'sfatherwouldhavedonebetterhadhesenthissontoBelfasttostudyandhavesavedsomethingonthetrainfarebysodoing。

  Theoblongskullbeneathdidnotturntomeetthisshaftofthoughtandyettheshaftcamebacktoitsbowstring;forhesawinamomentthestudent\'swhey-paleface——

  Thatthoughtisnotmine,hesaidtohimselfquickly。ItcamefromthecomicIrishmaninthebenchbehind。Patience。CanyouSaywithcertitudebywhomthesoulofyourracewasbarteredanditselectbetrayed-bythequestionerorbythemocker?Patience。RememberEpictetus。Itisprobablyinhischaractertoasksuchaquestionatsuchamomentinsuchatoneandtopronouncethewordscienceasamonosyllable。

  Thedroningvoiceoftheprofessorcontinuedtowinditselfslowlyroundandroundthecoilsitspokeof,doubling,trebling,quadruplingitssomnolentenergyasthecoilmultiplieditsohmsofresistance。

  Moynihan\'svoicecalledfrombehindinechotoadistantbell:——

  Closingtime,gents!

  Theentrancehallwascrowdedandloudwithtalk。Onatablenearthedoorweretwophotographsinframesandbetweenthemalongrollofpaperbearinganirregulartailofsignatures。MacCannwentbrisklytoandfroamongthestudents,talkingrapidly,answeringrebuffsandleadingoneafteranothertothetable。Intheinnerhallthedeanofstudiesstoodtalkingtoayoungprofessor,strokinghischingravelyandnoddinghishead。

  Stephen,checkedbythecrowdatthedoor,haltedirresolutely。FromunderthewidefallingleafofasofthatCranly\'sdarkeyeswerewatchinghim——

  Haveyousigned?Stephenasked。

  Cranlyclosedhislongthin-lippedmouth,communedwithhimselfaninstantandanswered:——

  Egohabeo——

  Whatisitfor?——

  Quod?——

  Whatisitfor?

  CranlyturnedhispalefacetoStephenandsaidblandlyandbitterly:——

  Perpaxuniversalis——

  StephenpointedtotheTsar\'sphotographandsaid:——

  HehasthefaceofabesottedChrist。

  ThescornandangerinhisvoicebroughtCranly\'seyesbackfromacalmsurveyofthewallsofthehall——

  Areyouannoyed?heasked——

  No,answeredStephen——

  Areyouinbadhumour?——

  No——

  Credoutvossanguinariusmendaxestis,saidCranly,quiafaciesvostramonstratutvosindamnomalohumoreestis。

  Moynihan,onhiswaytothetable,saidinStephen\'sear:——

  MacCannisintiptopform。Readytoshedthelastdrop。Brandnewworld。Nostimulantsandvotesforthebitches。

  Stephensmiledatthemannerofthisconfidenceand,whenMoynihanhadpassed,turnedagaintomeetCranly\'seyes——

  Perhapsyoucantellme,hesaid,whyhepourshissoulsofreelyintomyear。Canyou?

  AdullscowlappearedonCranly\'sforehead。HestaredatthetablewhereMoynihanhadbenttowritehisnameontheroll,andthensaidflatly:——

  Asugar!——

  Quisestinmalohumore,saidStephen,egoautvos?

  Cranlydidnottakeupthetaunt。Hebroodedsourlyonhisjudgementandrepeatedwiththesameflatforce:——

  Aflamingbloodysugar,that\'swhatheis!

  ItwashisepitaphforalldeadfriendshipsandStephenwonderedwhetheritwouldeverbespokeninthesametoneoverhismemory。Theheavylumpishphrasesankslowlyoutofhearinglikeastonethroughaquagmire。Stephensawitsinkashehadseenmanyanother,feelingitsheavinessdepresshisheart。Cranly\'sspeech,unlikethatofDavin,hadneitherrarephrasesofElizabethanEnglishnorquaintlyturnedversionsofIrishidioms。ItsdrawlwasanechoofthequaysofDublingivenbackbyableakdecayingseaport,itsenergyanechoofthesacredeloquenceofDublingivenbackflatlybyaWicklowpulpit。

  TheheavyscowlfadedfromCranly\'sfaceasMacCannmarchedbrisklytowardsthemfromtheothersideofthehall——

  Hereyouare!saidMacCanncheerily——

  HereIam!saidStephen——

  Lateasusual。Canyounotcombinetheprogressivetendencywitharespectforpunctuality?——

  Thatquestionisoutoforder,saidStephen。Nextbusiness。Hissmilingeyeswerefixedonasilver-wrappedtabletofmilkchocolatewhichpeepedoutofthepropagandist\'sbreast-pocket。

  Alittleringoflistenersclosedroundtohearthewarofwits。Aleanstudentwitholiveskinandlankblackhairthrusthisfacebetweenthetwo,glancingfromonetotheotherateachphraseandseemingtotrytocatcheachflyingphraseinhisopenmoistmouth。Cranlytookasmallgreyhandballfromhispocketandbegantoexamineitclosely,turningitoverandover——

  Nextbusiness?saidMacCann。Hom!

  Hegavealoudcoughoflaughter,smiledbroadlyandtuggedtwiceatthestraw-colouredgoateewhichhungfromhisbluntchin——

  Thenextbusinessistosignthetestimonial——

  WillyoupaymeanythingifIsign?askedStephen——

  Ithoughtyouwereanidealist,saidMacCann。

  Thegipsy-likestudentlookedabouthimandaddressedtheonlookersinanindistinctbleatingvoice——

  Byhell,that\'saqueernotion。Iconsiderthatnotiontobeamercenarynotion。

  Hisvoicefadedintosilence。Noheedwaspaidtohiswords。Heturnedhisoliveface,equineinexpression,towardsStephen,invitinghimtospeakagain。

  MacCannbegantospeakwithfluentenergyoftheTsar\'srescript,ofStead,ofgeneraldisarmamentarbitrationincasesofinternationaldisputes,ofthesignsofthetimes,ofthenewhumanityandthenewgospeloflifewhichwouldmakeitthebusinessofthecommunitytosecureascheaplyaspossiblethegreatestpossiblehappinessofthegreatestpossiblenumber。

  Thegipsystudentrespondedtothecloseoftheperiodbycrying:——

  Threecheersforuniversalbrotherhood!——

  Goon,Temple,saidastoutruddystudentnearhim。I\'llstandyouapintafter——

  I\'mabelieverinuniversalbrotherhood,saidTemple,glancingabouthimoutofhisdarkovaleyes。Marxisonlyabloodycod。

  Cranlygrippedhisarmtightlytocheckhistongue,smilinguneasily,andrepeated:——

  Easy,easy,easy!

  Templestruggledtofreehisarmbutcontinued,hismouthfleckedbyathinfoam:——

  SocialismwasfoundedbyanIrishmanandthefirstmaninEuropewhopreachedthefreedomofthoughtwasCollins。Twohundredyearsago。

  Hedenouncedpriestcraft,thephilosopherofMiddlesex。ThreecheersforJohnAnthonyCollins!

  Athinvoicefromthevergeoftheringreplied:——

  Pip!pip!

  MoynihanmurmuredbesideStephen\'sear:——

  AndwhataboutJohnAnthony\'spoorlittlesister:LottieCollinslostherdrawers;

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