第30章

Hetouchedthethinelbowgently：thentookthelimpseeinghandtoguideitforward。

Saysomethingtohim。Betternotdothecondescending。Theymistrustwhatyoutellthem。Passacommonremark：

Therainkeptoff。

Noanswer。

Stainsonhiscoat。Slobbershisfood，Isuppose。Tastesalldifferentforhim。Havetobespoonfedfirst。Likeachild’shandhishand。LikeMilly’swas。Sensitive。SizingmeupIdaresayfrommyhand。Wonderifhehasaname，Van。Keephiscaneclearofthehorse’slegstireddrudgegethisdoze。That’sright。Clear。Behindabull：infrontofahorse。

Thanks，sir。

KnowsI’maman。Voice。

Rightnow？Firstturntotheleft。

Theblindstriplingtappedthecurbstoneandwentonhisway，drawinghiscaneback，feelingagain。

MrBloomwalkedbehindtheeyelessfeet，aflatcutsuitofherringbonetweed。Pooryoungfellow！Howonearthdidheknowthatvanwasthere？

Musthavefeltit。Seethingsintheirforeheadsperhaps。Kindofsenseofvolume。Weight。Wouldhefeelitifsomethingwasremoved？Feelagap。

QueerideaofDublinhemusthave，tappinghiswayroundbythestones。

Couldhewalkinabeelineifhehadn’tthatcane？Bloodlesspiousfacelikeafellowgoingintobeapriest。

Penrose！Thatwasthatchap’sname。

Lookatallthethingstheycanlearntodo。Readwiththeirfingers。

Tunepianos。Orwearesurprisedtheyhaveanybrains。Whywethinkadeformedpersonorahunchbackcleverifhesayssomethingwemightsay。Ofcoursetheothersensesaremore。Embroider。Plaitbaskets。Peopleoughttohelp。

WorkbasketIcouldbuyMolly’sbirthday。Hatessewing。Mighttakeanobjection。

Darkmentheycallthem。

Senseofsmellmustbestrongertoo。Smellsonallsidesbunchedtogether。

Eachpersontoo。Thenthespring，thesummer：smells。Tastes。Theysayyoucan’ttastewineswithyoureyesshutoracoldinthehead。Alsosmokeinthedarktheysaygetnopleasure。

Andwithawoman，forinstance。Moreshamelessnotseeing。ThatgirlpassingtheStewartinstitution，headintheair。Lookatme。Ihavethemallon。Mustbestrangenottoseeher。Kindofaforminhismind’seye。

Thevoicetemperaturewhenhetouchesherwithfingersmustalmostseethelines，thecurves。Hishandsonherhair，forinstance。Sayitwasblackforinstance。Good。Wecallitblack。Thenpassingoverherwhiteskin。Differentfeelperhaps。Feelingofwhite。

Postoffice。Mustanswer。Fagtoday。Sendherapostalordertwoshillingshalfacrown。Acceptmylittlepresent。Stationer’sjustheretoo。Wait。

Thinkoverit。

Withagentlefingerhefelteversoslowlythehaircombedbackabovehisears。Again。Fibresoffinefinestraw。Thengentlyhisfingerfelttheskinofhisrightcheek。Downyhairtheretoo。Notsmoothenough。Thebellyisthesmoothest。No-oneabout。TherehegoesintoFrederickstreet。

PerhapstoLevenston’sdancingacademypiano。Mightbesettlingmybraces。

WalkingbyDoran’spublichouseheslidhishandbetweenwaistcoatandtrousersand，pullingasidehisshirtgently，feltaslackfoldofhisbelly。ButIknowit’swhiteyellow。Wanttotryinthedarktosee。

Hewithdrewhishandandpulledhisdressto。

Poorfellow！Quiteaboy。Terrible。Reallyterrible。Whatdreamswouldhehave，notseeing？Lifeadreamforhim。Whereisthejusticebeingbornthatway？AllthosewomenandchildrenexcursionbeanfeastburnedanddrownedinNewYork。Holocaust。Karmatheycallthattransmigrationforsinsyoudidinapastlifethereincarnationmethimpike-hoses。Dear，dear，dear。

Pityofcourse：butsomehowyoucan’tcottonontothemsomeway。

SirFrederickFalkinergoingintothefreemasons’hall。SolemnasTroy。

AfterhisgoodlunchinEarlsf