第11章

There’sasmellofburn，shesaid。Didyouleaveanythingonthefire？

Thekidney！hecriedsuddenly。

Hefittedthebookroughlyintohisinnerpocketand，stubbinghistoesagainstthebrokencommode，hurriedouttowardsthesmell，steppinghastilydownthestairswithaflurriedstork’slegs。PungentsmokeshotupinanangryJetfromasideofthepan。Byproddingaprongoftheforkunderthekidneyhedetacheditandturneditturtleonitsback。Onlyalittleburned。Hetosseditoffthepanontoaplateandletthescantybrowngravytrickleoverit。

Cupofteanow。Hesatdown，cutandbutteredasliceoftheloaf。Heshoreawaytheburntfleshandflungittothecat。Thenheputaforkfulintohismouth，chewingwithdiscernmentthetoothsomepliantmeat。Donetoaturn。Amouthfuloftea。Thenhecutawaydiesofbread，soppedoneinthegravyandputitinhismouth。Whatwasthataboutsomeyoungstudentandapicnic？Hecreasedouttheletterathisside，readingitslowlyashechewed，soppinganotherdieofbreadinthegravyandraisingittohismouth。DearestPapli，Thankseversomuchforthelovelybirthdaypresent。Itsuitsmesplendid。

EveryonesaysI’mquitethebelleinmynewtam。Igotmummy’slovelyboxofcreamsandamwriting。Theyarelovely。Iamgettingonswimminginthephotobusinessnow。MrCoghlantookoneofmeandMrswillsendwhendeveloped。Wedidgreatbizyesterday。Fairdayandallthebeeftotheheelswerein。WearegoingtoloughOwelonMondaywithafewfriendstomakeascrappicnic。Givemylovetomummyandtoyourselfabigkissandthanks。Ihearthematthepianodownstairs。ThereistobeaconcertintheGrevilleArmsonSaturday。ThereisayoungstudentcomesheresomeeveningsnamedBannonhiscousinsorsomethingarebigswellshesingsBoylan’s(IwasonthepopofwritingBlazesBoylan’s)songaboutthoseseasidegirls。TellhimsillyMillysendsmybestrespects。Mustnowclosewithfondestlove。

Yourfonddaughter，MILLY。

P。S。Excusebadwriting，aminahurry。Byby。

M。Fifteenyesterday。Curious，fifteenthofthemonthtoo。Herfirstbirthdayawayfromhome。Separation。Rememberthesummermorningshewasborn，runningtoknockupMrsThorntoninDenzillestreet。Jollyoldwoman。Lotsofbabiesshemusthavehelpedintotheworld。SheknewfromthefirstpoorlittleRudywouldn’tlive。Well，Godisgood，sir。Sheknewatonce。Hewouldbeelevennowifhehadlived。

Hisvacantfacestaredpityingatthepostscript。Excusebadwriting。

Hurry。Pianodownstairs。Comingoutofhershell。RowwithherintheXL

Café；aboutthebracelet。Wouldn’teathercakesorspeakorlook。

Saucebox。Hesoppedotherdiesofbreadinthegravyandatepieceafterpieceofkidney。Twelveandsixaweek。Notmuch。Still，shemightdoworse。

Musichallstage。Youngstudent。Hedrankadraughtofcoolerteatowashdownhismeal。Thenhereadtheletteragain：twice。

Owell：sheknowshowtomindherself。Butifnot？No，nothinghashappened。

Ofcourseitmight。Waitinanycasetillitdoes。Awildpieceofgoods。

Herslimlegsrunningupthestaircase。Destiny。Ripeningnow。Vain：very。

Hesmiledwithtroubledaffectionatthekitchenwindow。

DayIcaughtherinthestreetpinchinghercheekstomakethemred。

An&；Aelig；micalittle。Wasgivenmilktoolong。OntheErin’sKingthatdayroundtheKish。Damnedoldtubpitchingabout。Notabitfunky。

Herpalebluescarflooseinthewindwithherhair。Alldimpledcheek’sandcurls，Yourheaditsimplyswirls。Seasidegirls。Tornenvelope。Handsstuckinhistrouserspockets，jarveyofffortheday，singing。Friendofthefamily。Swurls，hesays。Pierwithlamps，summerevening，band，Thosegirls，thosegirls，Thoselovelyseasidegirls’Millytoo。Youngkisses：thefirst。Farawaynowpast。MrsMarion。Readinglyingbacknow，countingthestrandsofherhair，smiling，braiding。

Asoftqualmregret，floweddownhisbackbone，increasing。Willhappen，yes。Prevent。Useless：can’tmove。Girl’ssweetlightlips。Willhappentoo。Hefelttheflowingqualmspreadoverhim。Uselesstomovenow。Lipskissed，kissingkissed。Fullglueywoman’slips。

Betterwheresheisdownthere：away。Occupyher。Wantedadogtopassthetime。Mighttakeatripdownthere。Augustbankholiday，onlytwoandsixreturn。Sixweeksoffhowever。Mightworkapresspass。OrthroughM’Coy。

Thecat，havingcleanedallherfur，returnedtothemeatstainedpaper，nosedatitandstalkedtothedoor。Shelookedbackathim，mewing。Wantstogoout。Waitbeforeadoorsometimeitwillopen。Letherwait。Hasthefidgets。Electric。Thunderintheair。Waswashingatherearwithherbacktothefiretoo。

Hefeltheavy，full：thenagentlelooseningofhisbowels。Hestoodup，undoingthewaistbandofhistrousers。Thecatmewedtohim。

Miaow！hesaidinanswer。WaittillI’mready。

Heaviness：hotdaycoming。Toomuchtroubletofagupthestairstothelanding。

Apaper。Helikedtoreadatstool。HopenoapecomesknockingjustasI’m。

InthetabledrawerhefoundanoldnumberofTitbits。Hefoldeditunderhisarmpit，wenttothedoorandopenedit。Thecatwentupinsoftbounds。Ah，wantedtogoupstairs，curlupinaballonthebed。

Listening，heheardhervoice：

Come，come，pussy。Come。

Hewentoutthroughthebackdoorintothegarden：stoodtolistentowardsthenextgarden。Nosound。Perhapshangingclothesouttodry。Themaidwasinthegarden。Finemorning。

Hebentdowntoregardaleanfileofspearmintgrowingbythewall。

Makeasummerhousehere。Scarletrunners。Virginiacreepers。Wanttomanurethewholeplaceover，scabbysoil。Acoatofliverofsulphur。Allsoillikethatwithoutdung。Householdslops。Loam，whatisthisthatis？Thehensinthenextgarden：theirdroppingsareverygoodtopdressing。Bestofallthougharethecattle，especiallywhentheyarefedonthoseoilcakes。

Mulchofdung。Bestthingtocleanladies’kidgloves。Dirtycleans。Ashestoo。Reclaimthewholeplace。Growpeasinthatcornerthere。Lettuce。

Alwayshavefreshgreensthen。Stillgardenshavetheirdrawbacks。ThatbeeorbluebottlehereWhitmonday。

Hewalkedon。Whereismyhat，bytheway？Musthaveputitbackonthepeg。Orhanginguponthefloor。Funny，Idon’trememberthat。Hallstandtoofull。Fourumbrellas，herraincloak。Pickinguptheletters。Drago’sshopbellringing。QueerIwasjustthinkingthatmoment。Brownbrilliantinedhairoverhiscollar。Justhadawashandbrushup。WonderhaveItimeforabaththismorning。Tarastreet。ChapinthepayboxtheregotawayJamesStephenstheysay。O’Brien。

DeepvoicethatfellowDlugaczhas。Agendawhatisit？Now，mymiss。

Enthusiast。

Hekickedopenthecrazydoorofthejakes。Betterbecarefulnottogetthesetrousersdirtyforthefuneral。Hewentin，bowinghisheadunderthelowlintel。Leavingthedoorajar，amidthestenchofmouldylimewashandstalecobwebsheundidhisbraces。Beforesittingdownhepeeredthroughachinkupatthenextdoorwindow。Thekingwasinhiscountinghouse。

Nobody。

Asquatonthecuckstoolhefoldedouthispaperturningitspagesoveronhisbaredknees。Somethingnewandeasy。Nogreathurry。Keepitabit。

Ourprizetitbit。Matcham’sMasterstrike。WrittenbyMrPhilipBeaufoy，Playgoers’club，London。Paymentattherateofoneguineaacolumnhasbeenmadetothewriter。Threeandahalf。Threepoundsthree。Threepoundsthirteenandsix。

Quietlyheread，restraininghimself，thefirstcolumnand，yieldingbutresisting，beganthesecond。Midway，hislastresistanceyielding，heallowedhisbowelstoeasethemselvesquietlyasheread，readingstillpatiently，thatslightconstipationofyesterdayquitegone。Hopeit’snottoobigbringonpilesagain。No，justright。So。Ah！Costiveonetabloidofcascarasagrada。Lifemightbeso。Itdidnotmoveortouchhimbutitwassomethingquickandneat。Printanythingnow。Sillyseason。Hereadon，seatedcalmabovehisownrisingsmell。Neatcertainly。Matchamoftenthinksofthemaster-strokebywhichhewonthelaughingwitchwhonow。Beginsandendsmorally。Handinhand。Smart。Heglancedbackthroughwhathehadreadand，whilefeelinghiswaterflowquietly，heenviedkindlyMrBeaufoywhohadwrittenitandreceivedpaymentofthreepoundsthirteenandsix。

Mightmanageasketch。ByMrandMrsL。M。Bloom。Inventastoryforsomeproverbwhich？TimeIusedtotryjottingdownonmycuffwhatshesaiddressing。Dislikedressingtogether。Nickedmyselfshaving。BitinghernetherHip，hookingtheplacketofherskirt。Timingher。9。15。DidRobertspayyouyet？9。20。WhathadGrettaConroyon？9。23。Whatpossessedmetobuythiscomb？9。24。I’mswelledafterthatcabbage。Aspeckofdustonthepatentleatherofherboot。

Rubbingsmartlyinturneachweltagainstherstockingcalf。MorningafterthebazaardancewhenMay’sbandplayedPonchielli’sdanceofthehours。Explainthatmorninghours，noon，theneveningcomingon，thennighthours。Washingherteeth。Thatwasthefirstnight。Herheaddancing。Herfansticksclicking。IsthatBoylanwelloff？Hehasmoney。Why？Inoticedhehadagoodsmelloffhisbreathdancing。Nousehummingthen。Alludetoit。Strangekindofmusicthatlastnight。Themirrorwasinshadow。

Sherubbedherhandglassbrisklyonherwoollenvestagainstherfullwaggingbub。Peeringintoit。Linesinhereyes。Itwouldn’tpanoutsomehow。

Eveninghours，girlsingreygauze。Nighthoursthenblackwithdaggersandeyemasks。Poeticalideapink，thengolden，thengrey，thenblack。Stilltruetolifealso。Day，thenthenight。

Hetoreawayhalftheprizestorysharplyandwipedhimselfwithit。

Thenhegirdeduphistrousers，bracedandbuttonedhimself。Hepulledbackthejerkyshakydoorofthejakesandcameforthfromthegloomintotheair。

Inthebrightlight，lightenedandcooledinlimb，heeyedcarefullyhisblacktrousers，theends，theknees，thehoughsoftheknees。Whattimeisthefuneral？Betterfindoutinthepaper。

Acreakandadarkwhirrintheairhighup。ThebellsofGeorge’schurch。

Theytolledthehour：louddarkiron。Heigho！Heigho！

Heigho！Heigho！

Heigho！Heigho！Quarterto。Thereagain：theovertonefollowingthroughtheair，third。

PoorDignam！

JOYCE：Ulysses，Lotus-EatersLotusEatersBYLORRIESALONGSIRJOHNROGERSON’SQUAYMRBLOOMWALKEDsoberly，pastWindmilllane，Leask’sthelinseedcrusher’s，thepostaltelegraphoffice。

Couldhavegiventhataddresstoo。Andpastthesailors’home。HeturnedfromthemorningnoisesofthequaysideandwalkedthroughLimestreet。

ByBrady’scottagesaboyfortheskinslolled，hisbucketofoffallinked，smokingachewedfagbutt。Asmallergirlwithscarsofeczemaonherforeheadeyedhim，listlesslyholdingherbatteredcaskhoop。Tellhimifhesmokeshewon’tgrow。Olethim！Hislifeisn’tsuchabedofroses！Waitingoutsidepubstobringdahome。Comehometoma，da。Slackhour：won’tbemanythere。

HecrossedTownsendstreet，passedthefrowningfaceofBethel。El，yes：

houseof：Aleph，Beth。AndpastNichols’theundertaker’s。Atelevenitis。Timeenough。DaresayCornyKelleherbaggedthatjobforO’Neill’s。

Singingwithhiseyesshut。Corney。Metheronceinthepark。Inthedark。

Whatalark。Policetout。Hernameandaddressshethentoldwithmytooraloomtooraloomtay。O，surelyhebaggedit。Buryhimcheapinawhatyoumaycall。

Withmytooraloom，tooraloom，tooraloom，tooraloom。

InWestlandrowhehaltedbeforethewindowoftheBelfastandOrientalTeaCompanyandreadthelegendsoflead-paperedpackets：choiceblend，finestquality，familytea。Ratherwarm。Tea。MustgetsomefromTomKernan。

Couldn’taskhimatafuneral，though。Whilehiseyesstillreadblandlyhetookoffhishatquietlyinhalinghishairoilandsenthisrighthandwithslowgraceoverhisbrowandhair。Verywarmmorning。Undertheirdroppedlidshiseyesfoundthetinybowoftheleatherheadbandinsidehishighgradeha。Justthere。Hisrighthandcamedownintothebowlofhishat。Hisfingersfoundquicklyacardbehindtheheadbandandtransferredittohiswaistcoatpocket。

Sowarm。Hisrighthandoncemoremoreslowlywentoveragain：choiceblend，madeofthefinestCeylonbrands。Thefareast。Lovelyspotitmustbe：thegardenoftheworld，biglazyleavestofloatabouton，cactuses，flowerymeads，snakylianastheycallthem。Wonderisitlikethat。ThoseCinghaleselobbingaroundinthesun，indolcefarniente。Notdoingahand’sturnallday。Sleepsixmonthsoutoftwelve。Toohottoquarrel。

Influenceoftheclimate。Lethargy。Flowersofidleness。Theairfeedsmost。Azotes。HothouseinBotanicgardens。Sensitiveplants。Waterlilies。