A-Painful-Case译文

第十次课堂月日821A PainfulCase小说出处憾事一桩A PainfulCase,爱尔兰籍作家詹姆斯・乔伊斯短篇小说,发表於1914年，收录於1914年出版的《都柏林人》短篇小说集一书内作者简介爱尔兰作家，诗人年月日生于都伯林信奉天主教的家庭,年月日卒于瑞士苏黎世先后就读于都柏林大建克朗格1882221941113斯伍德学院、贝尔沃迪尔学院和大学学院，很早就显露出音乐、宗教哲学及语言文学方面的才能，并开始诗歌、散文习作他谙熟欧洲大陆作家作品，受易卜生影响尤深,并渐渐表现出对人类精神世界特殊的感悟及对家庭笃信的宗教和自己生活环境中的习俗、传统的叛逆1902年大学毕业后，曾与当时的爱尔兰文艺复兴运动有所接触,不久即成为其对立面同年，迫于经济压力及为摆脱家庭宗教和自身狭隘环境的束缚，自行流亡到欧洲大陆,先后在法国、瑞士、意大利过着流离的生活，广泛地吸取欧洲大陆和世界文化的精华年以后，携妻子儿1905女在意大利的里亚斯特定居,带病坚持文学创作詹姆斯・乔伊斯是二十世纪最伟大的隹家之一，他的作品及〃意识流〃思想对全世界产生了巨大的影响小说简介詹姆斯•达菲是贝格街上的一家私人银行的出纳员，每天下午四点钟一到，他就下班了没有朋友，也无知己；不上教堂，也不Duffer信教只有在圣诞节、或葬礼的时候，才去拜访亲戚有一天晚上，他在罗汤塔剧院看戏，碰巧坐在两位女士旁边，他知道这是一对母女他看著这位母亲，给人一种高傲的感觉几星期之彳发，他们又在爱尔福・泰瑞丝的音乐会上碰面，他得知她叫做希尼可Sinico太太，丈夫是一艘米往於都柏林和荷兰之间的商船船长，育有一女玛丽达菲到她家做客，希尼可船长以为这是因他喜欢自己的女儿，所以竭诚欢迎他来拜访他们两人开启了往彳发频繁的约会，两人在柏林郊外的小别墅共度良宵有一回希尼可太太牵著达菲的手，并把它贴到她的脸颊上，但达菲临时畏缩，整整一个礼拜，他都没去看她达菲最彳笈一次见希尼可女士，两人约在公园大门外的一间小蛋糕店里碰面，他告诉希尼可太太说“人与人的结合，必然以悲剧收场〃达菲先生恢复他过去一成不变的生活，书架上则摆著两本尼采的书《查拉图斯特拉如是说》和《欢愉的智慧》，他在纸条上写道〃男人与男人之间不可能有爱情，因为他们不能性交；男人与女人之间不可能有友情，因为他们必须性交四年彳爰，他从报纸上得知希尼可夫人因车祸去世，一些往事的记忆也开始浮现眼前他想起了她曾经触摸他的手，记得有一个女人曾经那样的爱过他，而他却摧毁了她的生命与幸福在酒馆里，他扪心自问，〃对这件悲剧，他又能怎样？他不能和她继续玩这自欺欺人的闹剧〃离开酒馆的时候，已经晚上九点多了这时夜色寒凉而苍茫，在公园里，他又回到四年前他们共同漫步的僻静小巷他感觉到她的声音环绕在耳际，她牵著他的手他确定那是他失去一生中最重要的一次爱情，现在他觉得他真的是孤独的一个人了一桩惨案A PainfulCase又译《悲痛的往事》、《憾事一桩》、《一件伤心的往事》等［爱尔兰］詹姆斯・乔伊斯JamesJoyce詹姆斯・杜菲先生住在查波利佐德，因为他虽然是都柏林市的公民，却想住得尽量远离那座城市，也因为他发现都柏林其他所有的郊区不是太乏味，就是太时髦，要么就太矫情他住在一幢幽暗的老房子里，从窗户里可以看到废弃的酒厂；再往上还可以看到浅浅的河水，都柏林就建在那河边他的房间没铺地毯，高高的四壁空空荡荡，一幅画也没挂室内一应家俱都是他自己买的一个黑色的铁床架，一个脸盆架，四把藤倚，一个衣帽架，一个煤篓外带火炉围栏和生火用具，还有一张方桌，上面放着一个带盖的写字台在壁龛中，用白木板做了个书架床上的卧具都是白色的，床脚铺着一块黑红相间的小地毯脸盆架上方挂着一面带把的小镜子，白天,一盏罩着白色灯罩的台灯便是壁炉台唯一的装饰了白木架上的书是按书的体积大小从下往上码放的一套华兹华斯全集放在最下面一层的一头，而一篇缝在一本笔记本的布封面上的《梅努斯问答》摹写本，则放在顶层的一头写字台上总是有一些写作用具写字台里放着霍夫曼的《迈克尔・克雷默》的译稿，剧本中的舞台指导说明是用紫墨水写的，一小扎手稿则用铜大头针别在一起在这些纸页上时不时地有一句题词，而且天晓得什么时候，《崩豆》的一则广告标题被贴在第一页纸上掀开台盖，会闻到一股淡淡的香味一一不是新杉木铅笔的香味，就是一瓶口香糖的味，再不就是放在里面忘了拿出来的熟透了的苹果味身体或精神略有不适的迹象，杜菲先生就很难受要是在中世纪，医生准会说他害了忧郁症他那饱经风霜的脸上，带有都柏林街道的棕色长而偏大的脑袋上长着干巴巴的黑头发，黄褐色的小胡子并不能遮住那张不和善的嘴他的颗骨也给他的面孔增加了几分严厉；不过他的眼睛倒不厉害，只是在那两道黄褐色的眉毛下面打量着世界，使人感到这个人总是准备觉察出他人身上的赎罪精神，却往往大失所望他有点神不守舍，老是用怀疑的眼光看待自己的行为他有一种奇怪的写自传的习惯，时不时地要在心里造一个关于他自己的短句，却用第三人称作主语，还要有个过去时态的谓语他对乞丐从不施舍，而且总是步伐坚定，拿着一根结实的榛木棍他在巴格特街一家私立银行做出纳员已有多年每天早晨，他从查波利佐德乘电车来上班中午，他去丹・伯克餐馆用午餐一一一瓶淡啤酒和一小盘葛粉饼干四点钟他就没事了他在乔治街一家饭馆吃晚餐，在那里他感到离开了都柏林的纨绮子弟，比较自在，而且那里的菜单价码也比较实惠晚上的时光，他要么消磨在女房东的钢琴旁，要么在市郊闲逛出于对莫扎特音乐的爱好，他偶尔也去听一场歌剧或音乐会这是他生活中唯一的消遣了他既没有同伴也没有朋友，不去教堂也不信教他过着独往独来的精神生活，同他人没有任何交往，只是在圣诞节才走走亲戚，或者在亲人去世后去送送葬他纯粹是为了古老的体面才参加这两种社交仪式的，但他决不向城市生活的习俗再多让一步他会幻想在某些情况下，他会抢他的银行，但是由于这些情况从不出现，他的生活也就安安稳稳地过下去一一整个一个平淡无奇一天晚上，他发现自己在罗敦达剧院坐在两位女士的旁边剧场中观众寥寥，很安静，令人痛苦地预示着演出要失败紧挨着他坐的那位女士看了看空荡荡的剧场说——真可惜，今天晚上观众这么少对着空空的板凳唱歌，也太难为人了他把这话当作是邀请他谈话的表示她似乎没有什么局促感，这使他很惊讶他们一边谈着，他一边努力把她的长相牢牢记住当他得知她身边那位年轻女郎是她的女儿时，他断定她比自己小

一、两岁她的面孔想必过去很漂亮，这时也依然显得聪明这是一张瓜籽儿脸，五官很有特征眼睛蓝得深沉而且从容不迫它们的凝视一开始有点挑战的神气，但是继而瞳孔似乎有意的迷茫又使那凝视散乱了，片刻之间显示出一种极敏感的气质瞳孔很快镇定如常，再次恢复那种拘谨的若明若暗她的羔皮短外套勾勒出一个饱满的胸脯，更加重了那种挑战的神气几个星期后，在鄂尔斯堡台地的一场音乐会上，他和她再次相遇，并趁着她女儿分神的时候说开了体己话她婉转地提到她丈夫

一、两次，但是口气并没有警告的意味她是希尼科太太她丈夫的远祖是意大利来航人她丈夫是往来于都柏林和荷兰间的一艘商船的船长，他们有一个孩子第三次与她巧遇时，他鼓起勇气提出一次约会她来了那以后就相会了很多次；他们总是在晚上见面，并且选择最安静的地方一块散步，然而，杜菲先生对偷偷摸摸极为厌恶，发现他们不得不暗中往来，便强迫她请他到她家去希尼科船长对他的拜访很欢迎，以为他女儿的婚约指日可待了他早就打消了从妻子那里找到欢乐的念头，所以根本不怀疑别人会对她感兴趣由于丈夫常常离家，女儿又常出去教音乐课，所以杜菲先生同那位夫人交往的机会很多无论是他还是她以前都没有过这样的冒险，也不觉得有什么不合适他渐渐地使她对他的思想着了迷他借给她书看，把想法告诉她，与她交流自己的精神生活她什么都听他的作为对他的理论的回报，她有时也谈谈自己的生活出于近乎母性的关切，她鼓励他尽量开朗；她成了听他忏悔的〃牧师〃他告诉她说，他有时在爱尔兰社会主义党的会上帮帮忙，在那里，在用一盏昏暗的油灯照亮的亭子间里，在一群严肃的工人当中，他感到与众不同当该党一分为三，各有各的领导和亭子间时，他便不再参加了他说，工人们的讨论缩手缩脚；他们对工资问题的兴趣太大他觉得他们是面貌凶恶的现实主义者，对他们所享受不到的悠闲中所产生出来的那种刻板态度，他们都很反感他告诉她，在几百年之内，都柏林不会发生社会革命她问他为什么不把他的想法写出来写出来干什么，他反问她，语气中带着点谨慎的不屑是为了同爱用漂亮字句，但持续思维不能超过6秒钟的人一比高下？还是为了让自己成为那些感觉迟钝的中产阶级批评的靶子，他们任由警察来主宰其道德，由剧团经理来主宰其艺术？他常常到她在都柏林郊外的小小别墅去，常常整晚上就他们俩在一起随着他们思想的互相接近，他们讲的话题慢慢地也不那么飘渺了她的陪伴就像温暖了一株外来植物的一片沃土有好多次，她就同他谈到天黑，也不点灯把他们保护在黑暗里的房间，他们与别人的隔离，仍在他们耳畔回荡的音乐，把他们融在一起这种融洽使他们得意，磨去了他性格中粗鲁的锋芒，给他的精神生活平添了感情色彩有时他觉得他在听他自己的声音他认为，在她的眼里，他会升华到一种天使般的境界；而随着他对他这位伴侣火辣辣的性格感到越来越亲近，他听见那个奇怪的不知是谁的声音，那个他以为是他自己的声音坚持说，灵魂的孤独是不可救药的我们不会献出自己，那声音说，我们只顾自己这些谈论的结束是在一天晚上，在她表示了种种非同寻常的激动之后，希尼科太太热烈地抓住了他的手，把它贴在自己的脸颊上杜菲先生惊讶坏了她对他的话这样理解，使他感到幻想破灭了他有一个星期都没去找她；然后他给她写信，请她见他一面他不希望他们最后一次会面由于他们原来的忏悔处已遭破坏而受影响，所以他们是在公园门口附近一个小点心店见的面已是秋凉天气,但他们不顾天冷，沿着公园里的路来来回回遛达了近三个小时他们同意中断他们的交往每一件信物，他说，都是令人伤感的东西他们出了公园，无言地走向电车；但是这时她开始发抖•，抖得很厉害，他害怕她又会倒下，便匆匆向她道了别，离开了她几天后，他收到了一个包裹，里面有他的书和音乐四年过去了杜菲先生恢复了他平平淡淡的生活他的房间依旧证明着他思想的按部就班一些新的乐谱塞满了房间下面的乐谱架,他的书架上则立着两卷尼采的著作《扎拉图土特拉如是说》和《同性恋学》他很少在书桌上放的那扎纸上写点什么他最后一次会见希尼科太太两个月之后写的一句话是男人与男人之间的爱情是不可能的，因为不必有性交；男人与女人之间的友谊是不可能的，因为必须有性交他不再去听音乐会，以免会碰见她他的父亲去世了；银行的小合伙人退休了他还是每天早晨乘电车进城，每天晚上在乔治街简简单单地吃一顿晚餐，就着甜点看了晚报之后，再从城里走回来一天晚上，正当他要把一口咸牛肉和元白菜塞进嘴里时，他的手停住了他的眼睛盯在晚报的一段报道上，他刚把那张晚报靠着球形细颈玻璃盛水瓶打开他把那口菜又放到盘子里，专注地读起那则报道来他喝了一口水，把盘子推到一边，将报纸拿到面前在他两肘之间摊开，把那段报道读了一遍又一遍盘子里的元白菜凉了，凝起一层白油女招待走过来问他，是不是菜做得不合口他说菜很好，便很费劲地吃了几口然后他付了账，就走了他很快地走入十一月的苍茫暮色，他那结实的樟木手杖有规则地敲着地面，浅黄色的《邮报》的边从他那紧身双排扣大衣的口袋里露了出来在那条从公园门口通向查波利佐德的行人寥寥的路上，他的步子放慢了他的手杖敲得也不那么响了，他那不规则的呼吸几乎发出了一声叹息，凝固在寒冷的天气中到了家，他一头冲进卧室，从口袋里掏出报纸，借着窗口若明若暗的光线，把那段报道又读了一遍他读的声音不大，仅仅像神甫念《秘密》祷文一样，只是动着嘴唇这段报道是这样的悉尼广场妇人之死一桩惨案今天在都柏林市医院，代理人克罗纳（勒弗雷特先生不在场）就艾米莉・希尼科太太的遗体进行了调查，四十三岁的希尼科太太昨晚在悉尼广场车站遇难身亡有证据表明，这位已故的太太正准备穿越轨道时，被十点钟从金斯敦开来的慢车车头撞倒，头部和右侧受伤，不治身亡火车司机詹姆斯・列农说，他已在铁路公司供职十五年听到卫兵的哨声后，他开动了火车，

一、两秒钟后，听到有人大喊大叫，就停了下来火车开得很慢车站行李搬运工杜恩说，在火车要起动时，他看到一个女人正要穿越铁轨他朝她跑过去，并且大喊，但是还没跑到跟前，她就被机车的缓冲器撞上，倒在地上一位陪审员一一你看到那位夫人摔倒了？证人一一是的警官科罗利证实说，当他赶到时.，他发现死者躺在站台上，显然已经死了他叫人将尸体搬到候车室，等着救护车到来第五十七E区的警察局长确认了这一点都柏林市医院的助理住院外科医生哈尔品说，死者下排肋骨有两根骨折，右肩严重挫伤头部右侧在摔倒时受伤对正常人来说，这些伤不足以致死据他看来，死因可能是休克加上心跳骤停帕特森・芬雷先生代表铁路公司对这次事故深表遗憾公司向来采取一切预防措施，防止人们不走天桥而穿越铁轨，为此在每个车站都竖了告示牌，还在平地道口采用了专用弹簧门死者习惯在深夜横穿铁轨从这个站台到那个站台，而且，鉴于此案某些其他情况，他认为铁路官员没有责任悉尼广场利奥维尔的希尼科船长，死者的丈夫，也出面作证他说，死者是他的发妻出事时，他没在都柏林，他那天早晨才从鹿特丹回来他们已结婚二十二年，一直过得很幸福，直到两年前他妻子染上了饮酒过量的习惯玛丽・希尼科小姐说，近来她母亲习惯晚上出去买酒她作证说，她经常试图跟她母亲讲道理，并劝她参加了一个组织她在事发一小时之后才回到家根据医学证明，陪审团判决列农无罪代理人克罗纳说，这是一桩很惨的案子，他对希尼科船长和他的女儿表示了极大的同情他敦促铁路公司采取有力措施，防止今后再发生类似事故谁也没有受到责怪杜菲先生的眼睛离开了报纸，凝视着窗外惨淡的夜景河静静地躺在空荡荡的酒厂旁边，卢肯路的某座房子不时亮起一盏灯结局竟会是这样！对她的死亡的叙述引起他的厌恶，厌恶他竟跟她谈过他认为是神圣的事记者为了掩饰一种普通、平庸的死亡所用的词句，空泛的同情表示，小心翼翼的措词，使他大倒胃口她不仅使她自己掉价，也使他掉了价他看到了她恶习中卑劣的一面，可耻,恶心他的灵魂的伴侣！他想起那些步履蹒跚的可怜人，他曾看到他们带着瓶瓶罐罐，让酒吧的男招待员灌酒天哪，结局竟是这样!显然她就不配活着，她没有目标支撑，又轻易屈从于习惯，成了养育起文明的一具残骸但是她竟沉沦到这种地步！他有没有可能完全看错了她？他想起她那天晚上的爆发，看待这件事的感觉比以往更为严苛此刻他毫无困难地赞许了自己采取的行动光线越来越暗，他又想起了别的往事，想起她的手曾碰到他的手最初使他倒胃口的那种震惊又撞击着他的神经他很快地穿上大衣，戴上帽子，走了出去在门口寒气向他袭来，灌入他的衣袖他来到查波利佐德桥下的小酒馆，走进去要了一杯热果汁加酒的香甜饮料酒馆老板讨好地给他端上了饮料，但是没敢同他讲话酒馆里有

五、六个工人在讨论一位绅士在基尔代郡的庄园的价值他们从那巨大的一品脱平底无脚酒杯中喝上一口，再吸口烟，常常往地板上吐痰，有时就用他们笨重的靴子撮过锯末盖在痰上杜菲先生坐在凳子上瞪着他们，却是视而不见，听而不闻过了一会儿，他们出去了，他又要了一杯果汁酒饮料他就着这杯饮料坐了好长时间酒馆很安静老板趴在柜台上，读着《先驱报》，打着哈欠不时会听见一辆电车嗖嗖驶过外面行人寥寥的马路当他坐在那儿，把他和她交往的那段生活又过了一遍，又不时地想起他现在把她设想成的两种形象时，他才意识到她死了，她不复存在，她已成为一种回忆了他感到不安起来他自问，他还能怎么样他不可能同她把一出骗人的喜剧演下去；他不能公开与她同居在他看来.他也只能这么做了怎么能怪他呢？现在她没了，他也明白她的生活曾经有多么寂寞，一夜又一夜地在那屋里独坐他的生活也会寂寞下去，直到他也死了，也不复存在，也成为一种回忆一一除非有人记得他他离开那酒馆时已过了九点夜凄冷苍茫他走过公园第一个门口就走了进去，走在光秃秃的树下他又走过他们四年前走过的那些荒疏的小径黑暗中，她似乎就在他近旁他时不时地似乎感到她的声音响在他的耳畔，她的手触到他的手他站住倾听他于吗不给她生路？他为什么判了她死刑？他感到自己的道德在土崩瓦解一他走到麦格吟山的山顶上时，止住了脚步，沿河向都柏林望去，那座城市在寒夜中放着好客的红光他沿着山坡往下望，在山脚，在公园围墙的阴影里，他看到有人影影绰绰地躺着那些用钱可以买到的偷偷摸摸的爱情令他绝望他玩味着他一生的严正，他感到他与欢乐的生活格格不入一个活生生的人好像爱上了他，而他却否决了她的爱和幸福他判定她不知羞耻，让她死于羞愧他知道躺在山下公园墙边的那些人正看着他，盼着他走谁也不需要他他与欢乐的生活格格不入他把目光转向灰蒙蒙的闪着微光的河，那河蜿蜒流向都柏林在河那边，他看到一列货车正蜿蜒驶出国王桥车站，像一条有着火红脑袋的虫子在黑暗中顽强而吃力地蜿蜒爬行它缓缓驶出视野；但他仍能听到机车的嗡嗡声不绝于耳，重复着她名字的音节他转身从来路往回走，机车那有节奏的声音仍响在耳畔他开始对回忆显现给他的现实感到怀疑他在一棵树下停下来，待那节奏消失他在黑暗中感觉不到她在近旁，耳畔也听不到她的声音了他又听了几分钟他什么也听不到夜一片寂静他再听一片寂静他觉得只有他自己了A PainfulCaseMR.JAMES DUFFYlived inChapelizod because he wishedto liveas faras possiblefrom thecity of which he was acitizen andbecausehe found alltheother suburbsof Dublinmean,modern andpretentious.He livedin anold sombrehouse andfrom hiswindows hecould lookinto thedisused distilleryorupwards along the shallowriver on which Dublinis built.The loftywalls of his uncarpetedroom werefree frompictures.He hadhimself boughtevery articleof furniturein theroom ablack ironbedstead,an ironwashstand,four canechairs,a clothes-rack,a coal-scuttle,a fenderand ironsanda squaretable onwhich laya doubledesk.A bookcasehad beenmade in an alcoveby meansof shelvesof whitewood.The bedwas clothedwithwhite bedclothesand ablack andscarlet rugcovered thefoot.A littlehand-mirror hungabove thewashstand andduring theday awhite-shaded lampstoodas thesole ornamentof themantelpiece.The bookson thewhite woodenshelves werearranged frombelow upwardsaccording tobulk.Acomplete Wordsworthstood atone end of thelowest shelfand acopy of the MaynoothCatechism,sewn into the clothcover of a notebook,stood atoneendof the topshelf.Writing materialswere alwayson the desk.In thedesk laya manuscripttranslation ofHauptmanns MichaelKramer,thestage directionsof whichwere writtenin purpleink,and alittle sheafof papersheld togetherby abrass pin.In thesesheets asentence wasinscribedfrom time to time and,in anironical moment,the headlineof anadvertisement forBile Beanshad beenpasted onto the first sheet.On liftingthe lidof thedeska faintfragrance escaped-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------the fragranceof newcedarwood pencilsor of a bottleof gumor of an overripeapple whichmight have been leftthere andforgotten.Mr.Duffy abhorredanything whichbetokened physicalor mentaldisorder.A medivaldoctor wouldhave calledhim saturnine.His face,which carriedtheentire taleof hisyears,was of the browntint of Dublin streets.On hislong andrather largehead grewdry blackhair and a tawnymoustache did；not quitecover anunamiable mouth.His cheekbonesalso gavehis facea harshcharacter butthere wasno harshnessin theeyes which,looking attheworld fromunder theirtawny eyebrows,gave theimpression ofa manever alertto greeta redeeminginstinct inothers butoften disappointed.He livedat alittle distancefrom hisbody,regarding his own actswith doubtfulside-glasses.He had an oddautobiographical habitwhich ledhim tocomposein hismind from timeto timeashort sentenceabout himselfcontaining asubject in the thirdperson anda predicatein thepast tense.Henever gavealms to beggars and walked firmly,carrying astout hazel.He had been formany yearscashier ofa privatebank inBaggot Street.Every morninghe camein fromChapelizod bytram.At middayhe wentto DanBurkesand tookhis lunch-----------------a bottleof lagerbeer anda smalltrayful ofarrowroot biscuits.At fouroclock hewas setfree.He dinedin an eating-house inGeorges Streetwhere hefelt himselfsafe from the societyo Dublinsgilded youthand wherethere was a certainplain honestyin the billof fare.His eveningswere spenteither beforehis landladyspiano orroaming aboutthe outskirtsof thecity.His likingfor Mozartsmusic broughthim sometimesto anopera ora concertthese werethe onlydissipations of his life.He hadneither companionsnor friends,church norcreed.He livedhis spirituallife without any communionwith others,visiting hisrelatives atChristmas and escortingthem tothe cemeterywhen theydied.He performedthese twosocial dutiesfor olddignitys sakebut concedednothingfurther tothe conventionswhich regulatethe civiclife.He allowedhimself tothink that in certaincircumstances he would robhis hankbut,as thesecircumstancesnever arose,his liferolled outevenly--------------------------------an adventurelesstale.One eveninghe foundhimself sittingbeside twoladies in the Rotunda.The house,thinly peopledand silent,gave distressingprophecy offailure.The ladywho satnext himlooked roundat thedeserted houseonce ortwice andthen said“What apity thereis sucha poorhouse tonight!Its sohardon peopleto haveto singto emptybenches/He tookthe remarkasaninvitation totalk.He wassurprised that she seemedso littleawkward.While theytalked hetried tofix herpermanently inhismemory.When helearned that the younggirl besideher was her daughterhe judgedher to be ayear orso youngerthan himself.Her face,whichmust havebeen handsome,had remainedintelligent.It wasan ovalface withstrongly markedfeatures.The eyeswere verydark blueand steady.Their gazebegan witha defiantnote butwas confusedby whatseemed adeliberate swoonof thepupil into the iris,revealing foran instantatemperament ofgreat sensibility.The pupilreasserted itselfquickly,this half-disclosed naturefell againunder thereign ofprudence,and herastrakhanjacket,moulding abosom ofa certainfullness,struck thenote ofdefiance moredefinitely.He mether again a fewweeks afterwardsat aconcert inEarlsfort Terraceand seizedthe momentswhen herdaughters attentionwas divertedtobecome intimate.She alludedonce ortwice to her husbandbut her tone wasnot suchas to make theallusion awarning.Her namewas Mrs.Sinico.；Her husbandsgreat-great-grandfather had come fromLeghorn.Her husbandwas captainofamercantile boatplying betweenDublin andHollandand theyhad onechild.；Meeting hera thirdtime byaccident hefound couragetomakean appointment.She came.This was thefirstof manymeetings theymet alwaysinthe eveningand chosethe mostquiet quartersfor theirwalks together.Mr.Duffy,however,hadadistaste forunderhand waysand,finding that theywere compelledto meetstealthily,he forcedher to ask him to herhouse.Captain Sinicoencouraged hisvisits,thinking thathis daughtershand wasinquestion.He haddismissed his wife sosincerely fromhis galleryof pleasuresthat he did notsuspect thatanyone elsewould takean interestin her.Asthe husbandwas oftenaway andthe daughterout givingmusic lessonsMr.Duffy hadmany opportunitiesof enjoyingthe ladyssociety.Neither henorshe hadhad anysuch adventurebefore andneither wasconscious ofany incongruity.Little bylittle heentangled histhoughts with hers.He lentherbooks,provided herwith ideas,shared hisintellectual lifewith her.She listenedto all.Sometimes inreturn forhis theoriesshe gaveout somefact ofher ownlife.With almostmaternal solicitudeshe urgedhim tolet hisnature opentothefull shebecame hisconfessor.He told her thatfor sometime he had assistedat themeetings ofan IrishSocialist Partywhere he had felthimselfa uniquefigure amidsta scoreof soberworkmen ina garretlit byan inefficientoil-lamp.When theparty haddivided intothree sections,each under；its ownleader andin itsown garret,he haddiscontinued his attendances.The workmensdiscussions,he said,were tootimorous theinterest theytookin thequestion ofwages wasinordinate.He felt that theywere hard-featured realistsand that they resentedan exactitudewhich wasthe，produce ofa leisurenot within their reach.No socialrevolution hetoldher,would belikely tostrike Dublinfor somecenturies.She askedhim whydid henot writeout histhoughts.For what,he askedher,with carefulscorn.To competewith phrasemongers,incapable ofthinkingconsecutively forsixty secondsTo submithimself tothe criticismsofanobtuse middleclass whichentrusted itsmorality topolicemen anditsfine artsto impresarios；He wentoften to her littlecottage outsideDublin oftenthey spenttheir eveningsalone.Little bylittle,as theirthoughts entangled,they spokeofsubjects lessremote.Her companionshipwas like a warmsoil aboutan exotic.Many timesshe allowedthe darkto fallupon them,refraining fromlightingthe lamp.The darkdiscreet room,their isolation,the musicthat stillvibrated in their earsunited them.This unionexalted him,wore awaytherough edgesof hischaracter,emotionalised hismental life.Sometimes hecaught himselflistening tothe soundof hisown voice.He thoughtthatin；her eyeshewouldascend toan angelicalstature and,as heattached thefervent natureof hiscompanion moreand moreclosely to him,he heardthe strangeimpersonal voicewhich herecognised ashisown,insisting on the soulsincurable loneliness.We cannotgive ourselves,it saidwe areourown.The endof thesediscourses wasthat onenight duringwhich she had shownevery signof unusualexcitement,Mrs.Sinico caughtup his handpassionately andpressed ittohercheek.Mr.Duffy was very muchsurprised.Her interpretationof hiswords disillusionedhim.He did not visither fora week,then hewrote toher askingherto meethim.As hedid notwish theirlast interviewto betroubled by the influenceof theirruined confessionalthey meetinalittle cakeshopnear theParkgate.It was cold autumnweather butin spiteof thecold theywandered upand down the roadsof the Park fornearly threehours.They agreedto；break offtheir intercourseevery bond,he said,isabond tosorrow.When theycame outof thePark theywalked insilence towardsthe trambuthere shebegan totremble soviolently that,fearing anothercollapse onher part,he badeher good-bye quicklyand lefther.A fewdays laterhereceived aparcel containinghis booksand music.Four yearspassed.Mr.Duffy returnedto hiseven wayof life.His roomstill borewitness of the orderlinessof hismind.Some newpieces ofmusic encumberedthe music-stand inthe lowerroom andon hisshelves stoodtwo volumesby NietzscheThus SpakeZarathustra andThe GayScience.He wroteseldom inthe sheafof paperswhich layin hisdesk.One ofhis sentences,written twomonths afterhis lastinterview withMrs.Sinico,readLove between man andman is impossible because there mustnot besexual intercourseand friendshipbetweenmanand womanisimpossible；becausetheremust besexual intercourse.He keptaway fromconcerts lesthe shouldmeet her.His fatherdied thejunior partnerof thebank retired.And stillevery morninghe wentinto thecity bytram andevery eveningwalked homefrom thecity afterhaving dinedmoderately inGeorges Streetandread theevening paperfor dessert.One eveningas hewas about to puta morselof cornedbeef andcabbage intohis mouthhishandstopped.His eyesfixed themselveson aparagraphin theevening paperwhich he had proppedagainst thewater-carafe.He replacedthe morselof foodon his plate andread theparagraph attentively.Then hedrank aglass ofwater,pushed hisplate toone side,doubled thepaper downbefore himbetween hiselbows andread theparagraph overandover again.The cabbagebegan todeposit acold whitegrease on hisplate.The girlcame overtohimtoaskwas hisdinner notproperly cooked.Hesaid it was verygood andate afew mouthfulsof itwith difficulty.Then hepaid hisbill and went out.He walkedalong quicklythrough theNovember twilight,his stouthazel stickstriking the ground regularly,the fringeof thebuff Mailpeeping outof aside-pocket ofhis tightreefer overcoat.On thelonely roadwhich leadsfrom theParkgate toChapelizod heslackened hispace.His stickstruck thegroundless emphaticallyand hisbreath,issuing irregularly,almost witha sighingsound,condensed inthe wintryair.When hereached hishouse hewentup atonce tohis bedroomand,taking thepaper fromhis pocket,read theparagraph againby thefailing lightof thewindow.He readit notaloud,but movinghis lipsasapriest doeswhen hereads theprayers Secreto.This wasthe paragraphDEATHOF ALADY ATSYDNEY PARADEAPAINFUL CASETodayat the City ofDublin Hospitalthe DeputyCoroner inthe absenceof Mr.Leverett heldan inqueston the body ofMrs.Emily Sinico,agedforty-three years,who waskilled atSydney ParadeStation yesterdayevening.The evidenceshowed that the deceasedlady,while attemptingto crosstheline,was knockeddown by the engineof theten oclockslow trainfrom Kingstown,thereby sustaininginjuries of the headand rightside whichledto her death.James Lennon,driver of the engine,stated that he had been inthe employmentof the railway companyfor fifteenyears.On hearingthe guardswhistlehe setthe trainin motion andasecond ortwo afterwardsbrought itto restin responseto loudcries.The train was goingslowly.P.Dunne,railway porter,stated thatasthetrainwasabouttostart heobserved awoman attemptingto crossthe lines.He rantowards herandshouted,but,before hecould reachher,she wascaught by the bufferof theengine andfell totheground.A juror.Z/You sawthe ladyfall”Witness.zzYes/Police SergeantCroly deposedthat whenhe arrivedhefoundthe deceasedlying on the platformapparently dead.He hadthebodytaken tothewaiting-room pendingthe arrivaloftheambulance.Constable57corroborated.Dr.Halpin,assistant housesurgeon oftheCityofDublinHospital,stated that the deceasedhad twolower ribsfractured and had sustainedseverecontusions ofthe rightshoulder.The rightside ofthe headhad been injured inthe fall.The injurieswere notsufficient tohave causeddeath inanormal person.Death,in hisopinion,had beenprobably dueto shockand suddenfailure ofthe heartsaction.Mr.H.B.Patterson Finlay,on behalfoftherailway company,expressed hisdeep regretatthe accident.The companyhad alwaystaken everyprecautionto preventpeople crossing the linesexcept by the bridges,both byplacing noticesin everystation andbytheuse ofpatent springgates atlevelcrossings.The deceasedhadbeeninthe habit ofcrossingthelines lateat nightfrom platformto platformand,in viewofcertainother circumstancesofthecase,hedidnot thinktherailwayofficials wereto blame.Captain Sinico,of Leoville,Sydney Parade,husband ofthe deceased,also gaveevidence.He statedthatthedeceased washiswife.He wasnot inDublinatthetime oftheaccidentashehad arrivedonly thatmorning fromRotterdam.They hadbeen marriedfor twenty-two yearsandhadlivedhappily untilabout twoyears agowhen hiswife begantoberather intemperatein herhabits.Miss MarySinico saidthat oflate hermother hadbeeninthehabitof goingout atnight tobuy spirits.She,witness,had oftentried toreasonwith hermother andhad inducedhertojoin aLeague.She wasnot athome untilan hourafter theaccident.The juryreturned averdict inaccordancewith themedical evidenceand exoneratedLennon fromall blame.The DeputyCoroner saiditwasa mostpainful case,and expressedgreat sympathywith CaptainSinico and his daughter.He urgedon therailwaycompany totake strongmeasures toprevent thepossibility ofsimilar accidentsinthefuture.No blameattached toanyone.Mr.Duffy raisedhis eyesfromthepaper andgazed outofhiswindow onthe cheerlessevening landscape.The riverlay quietbeside theemptydistillery andfromtimetotimea lightappeared insome houseontheLucan road.What anend!The wholenarrative ofherdeathrevolted himand itrevoltedhimtothink thathehad ever spokentoherof whathe heldsacred.The threadbarephrases,the inaneexpressions ofsympathy,the cautious；words ofa reporterwon overto concealthe detailsofacommonplace vulgardeath attackedhis stomach.Not merelyhad shedegraded herselfshehad degradedhim.He sawthe squalidtract ofher vice,miserable andmalodorous.His soulscompanion!He thoughtofthehobbling wretcheswhom，hehadseen carryingcans andbottles tobe filledbythebarman.Just Godwhat anend!Evidently shehadbeenunfit tolive,withoutanystrength ofpurpose,an easyprey tohabits,one ofthe wrecksonwhichcivilisation hasbeen reared.But that she couldhave sunkso low!Was itpossible hehaddeceived himselfso utterlyabout herHe rememberedher outburstof thatnight andinterpreted itinaharsher sensethan hehadeverdone.He hadnodifficulty nowin approvingofthecourse hehad taken.As thelight failedandhismemory beganto wanderhe thoughther handtouched his.The shockwhich hadfirst attackedhis stomachwas now；attacking hisnerves.He puton hisovercoat andhat quicklyandwentout.The coldair methim onthe thresholdit creptintothesleeves ofhis coat.When hecame tothe public-house atChapelizod Bridgehe wentin andordered ahot punch.The proprietorserved himobsequiously butdidnotventure totalk.There werefive orsix workingmeninthe shop discussingthe valueof agentlemansestate inCounty KildareThey drankat intervalsfrom theirhuge pinttumblers andsmoked,spitting oftenonthefloor andsometimesdragging the sawdust overtheir spitswith theirheavy boots.Mr.Duffy satonhisstool andgazed atthem,without seeingor hearingthem.After awhilethey wentout and he calledfor anotherpunch.He sata longtime overit.The shopwasveryquiet.The proprietorsprawled onthe counterreadingthe Heraldand yawning.Now andagainatram washeard swishingalongthelonely roadoutside.As hesat there,living overhis lifewith herand evokingalternately thetwo imagesin whichhe nowconceived her,he realisedthatshe was dead,thatshe hadceased toexist,thatshehad becomea memory.He beganto feelill atease.He askedhimself whatelse couldhe havedone.He could not；have carriedonacomedy ofdeception withher hecouldnothave livedwithheropenly.He haddone whatseemed tohim best.How washe toblameNow thatshewasgone heunderstood howlonely her life musthavebeen,sitting nightafter nightalone inthat room.His lifewould belonelytoo untilhe,too,died,ceased toexist,became amemory-------------------------------------------------------------------if anyoneremembered him.It wasafter nineoclock whenhe lefttheshop.The nightwascoldand gloomy.He enteredtheParkbythefirst gateandwalkedalong underthe gaunttrees.He walkedthrough thebleak alleyswhere theyhad walkedfour yearsbefore.She seemed tobenear him inthe darkness.At momentsheseemed tofeel hervoice touch his ear,her handtouchhis.He stoodstill tolisten.Why had he withheldlife fromher Whyhadhesentenced hertodeathHe felthis moralnature fallingto pieces.When hegained thecrest ofthe MagazineHill hehalted andlooked alongthe rivertowards Dublin,the lightsofwhichburned redlyand hospitablyinthe coldnight.He lookeddowntheslope and,atthebase,intheshadow ofthe wallofthePark,hesawsome humanfigures lying.Those venaland；furtive lovesfilled himwith despair.He gnawedthe rectitudeofhislife hefeltthathehadbeen outcast from lifes feast.One humanbeing hadseemedtolove himandhehad deniedherlifeand happinesshehadsentenced herto ignominy,a deathof shame.He knewthattheprostrate；creatures downbythewall werewatching himand wishedhim gone.No onewanted himhewasoutcastfromlifesfeast.He turnedhis eyesto thegreygleaming river,winding alongtowards Dublin.Beyond theriver hesaw agoods trainwinding outof KingsbridgeStation,likeaworm witha fiery；head windingthrough thedarkness,obstinately andlaboriously.It passedslowly outof sightbut stillhe heardin his ears thelaborious droneof theenginereiterating thesyllables ofher name.He turnedback theway hehadcome,the rhythmoftheengine poundingin hisears.He beganto doubtthe realityof whatmemory toldhim.Hehalted undera treeand allowedthe rhythmto dieaway.He couldnot feelher nearhiminthedarknessnor hervoice touchhisear.He waitedforsome minuteslistening.He couldhear nothingthe nightwas perfectlysilent.He listenedagain perfectlysilent.He feltthathewas alone.用。