第43章

OnherflowerfrowningMissDoucesaid：

Mostaggravatingthatyoungbratis。Ifhedoesn’tconducthimselfI’llwringhisearforhimayardlong。

Ladylikeinexquisitecontrast。

Takenonotice，MissKennedyrejoined。

Shepouredinateacuptea，thenbackintheteapottea。Theycoweredundertheirreefofcounter，waitingonfootstools，cratesupturned，waitingfortheirteastodraw。Theypawedtheirblouses，bothofblacksatin，twoandnineayard，waitingfortheirteastodraw，andtwoandseven。

Yes，bronzefromanear，bygoldfromafar，heardsteelfromanear，hoofsringfromafar，andheardsteelhoofsringhoofringsteel。

AmIawfullysunburnt？

MissBronzeunblousedherneck。

No，saidMissKennedy。Itgetsbrownafter。Didyoutrytheboraxwiththecherrylaurelwater？

MissDoucehalfstoodtoseeherskinaskanceinthebarmirrorgildedletteredwherehockandclaretglassesshimmeredandintheirmidstashell。

Andleaveittomyhands，shesaid。

Tryitwiththeglycerine，MissKennedyadvised。

BiddingherneckandhandsadieuMissDouceThosethingsonlybringoutarash，replied，reseated。IaskedthatoldfogeyinBoyd’sforsomethingformyskin。

MissKennedy，pouringnowfulldrawntea，grimacedandprayed：

O，don’tremindmeofhimformercy’sake！

ButwaittillItellyou，MissDouceentreated。

SweetteaMissKennedyhavingpouredwithmilkpluggedbothtwoearswithlittlefingers。

No，don’t，shecried。

Iwon’tlisten，shecried。

ButBloom？

MissDoucegruntedinsnuffyfogey’stone：

Foryourwhat？sayshe。

MissKennedyunpluggedherearstohear，tospeak：butsaid，butprayedagain：

Don’tletmethinkofhimorI’llexpire。Thehideousoldwretch！

ThatnightintheAntientConcertRooms。

Shesippeddistastefullyherbrew，hottea，asip，sippedsweettea。

Herehewas，MissDoucesaid，cockingherbronzeheadthreequarters，rufflinghernosewings。Hufa！Hufa！

ShrillshriekoflaughtersprangfromMissKennedy’sthroat。MissDoucehuffedandsnorteddownhernostrilsthatquiveredimperthnthnlikeashoutinquest。

O！shrieking，MissKennedycried。Willyoueverforgetbisgoggleeye？

MissDoucechimedinindeepbronzelaughter，shouting：

Andyourothereye！

BloowhosedarkeyereadAaronFigatner’sname。WhydoIalwaysthinkFigather？GatheringfigsIthink。AndProsperLoré；’shuguenotname。

ByBassi’sblessedvirginsBloom’sdarkeyeswentby。Bluerobed，whiteunder，cometome。Godtheybelievesheis：orgoddess。Thosetoday。I

couldnotsee。Thatfellowspoke。Astudent。AfterwithDedalus’son。HemightbeMulligan。Allcomelyvirgins。Thatbringsthoserakesoffellowsin：herwhite。

Bywenthiseyes。Thesweetsofsin。Sweetarethesweets。

Ofsin。

Inagigglingpealyounggoldbronzevoicesblended，DoucewithKennedyyourothereye。Theythrewyoungheadsback，bronzegigglegold，toletfreeflytheirlaughter，screaming，yourother，signalstoeachOther，highpiercingnotes。

Ah，panting，sighing。Sighing，ah，fordonetheirmirthdieddown。

MissKennedylippedhercupagain，raised，drankasipandgiggle-giggled。

MissDouce，bendingagainovertheteatray，ruffledagainhernoseandrolleddrollfattenedeyes。AgainKennygiggles，stoopingherfairpinnaclesofhair，stooping，hertortoisenapecombshowed，splutteredoutofhermouthhertea，chokinginteaandlaughter，coughingwithchoking，crying：

Ogreasyeyes！Imaginebeingmarriedt