尤利西斯-第63章

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skirt　and　just　the　proper　amount　and　no　more　of　her　shapely　limbs　encased　in　finespun　hose　with　high　spliced　heels　and　wide　garter　tops。　As　for　undies　they　were　Gerty's　chief　care　and　who　that　knows　the　fluttering　hopes　and　fears　of　sweet　seventeen　（though　Gerty　would　never　see　seventeen　again）　can　find　it　in　his　heart　to　blame　her？　She　had　four　dinky　sets；　with　awfully　pretty　stitchery；　three　garments　and　nighties　extra；　and　each　set　slotted　with　different　coloured　ribbons；　rosepink；　pale　blue；　mauve　and　peagreen　and　she　aired　them　herself　and　blued　them　when　they　came　home　from　the　wash　and　ironed　them　and　she　had　a　brickbat　to　keep　the　iron　on　because　she　wouldn't　trust　those　washerwomen　as　far　as　she'd　see　them　scorching　the　things。　She　was　wearing　the　blue　for　luck；　hoping　against　hope；　her　own　colour　and　the　lucky　colour　too　for　a　bride　to　have　a　bit　of　blue　somewhere　on　her　because　the　green　she　wore　that　day　week　brought　grief　because　his　father　brought　him　in　to　study　for　the　intermediate　exhibition　and　because　she　thought　perhaps　he　might　be　out　because　when　she　was　dressing　that　morning　she　nearly　slipped　up　the　old　pair　on　her　inside　out　and　that　was　for　luck　and　lovers'　meetings　if　you　put　those　things　on　inside　out　so　long　as　it　wasn't　of　a　Friday。　
And　yet　and　yet！　That　strained　look　on　her　face！　A　gnawing　sorrow　is　there　all　the　time。　Her　very　soul　is　in　her　eyes　and　she　would　give　worlds　to　be　in　the　privacy　of　her　own　familiar　chamber　where；　giving　way　to　tears；　she　could　have　a　good　cry　and　relieve　her　pentup　feelings。　Though　not　too　much　because　she　knew　how　to　cry　nicely　before　the　mirror。　You　are　lovely；　Gerty；　it　said。　The　paly　light　of　evening　falls　upon　a　face　infinitely　sad　and　wistful。　Gerty　MacDowell　yearns　in　vain。　Yes；　she　had　known　from　the　first　that　her　daydream　of　a　marriage　has　been　arranged　and　the　weddingbells　ringing　for　Mrs　Reggy　Wylie　T。　C。　D。　（because　the　one　who　married　the　elder　brother　would　be　Mrs　Wylie）　and　in　the　fashionable　intelligence　Mrs　Gertrude　Wylie　was　wearing　a　sumptuous　confection　of　grey　trimmed　with　expensive　blue　fox　was　not　to　be。　He　was　too　young　to　understand。　He　would　not　believe　in　love；　a　woman's　birthright。　The　night　of　the　party　long　ago　in　Stoers'　（he　was　still　in　short　trousers）　when　they　were　alone　and　he　stole　an　arm　round　her　waist　she　went　white　to　the　very　lips。　He　called　her　little　one　in　a　strangely　husky　voice　and　snatched　a　half　kiss　（the　first！）　but　it　was　only　the　end　of　her　nose　and　then　he　hastened　from　the　room　with　a　remark　about　refreshments。　Impetuous　fellow！　Strength　of　character　had　never　been　Reggy　Wylie's　strong　point　and　he　who　would　woo　and　win　Gerty　MacDowell　must　be　a　man　among　men。　But　waiting；　always　waiting　to　be　asked　and　it　was　leap　year　too　and　would　soon　be　over。　No　prince　charming　is　her　beau　ideal　to　lay　a　rare　and　wondrous　love　at　her　feet　but　rather　a　manly　man　with　a　strong　quiet　face　who　had　not　found　his　ideal；　perhaps　his　hair　slightly　flecked　with　grey；　and　who　would　understand；　take　her　in　his　sheltering　arms；　strain　her　to　him　in　all　the　strength　of　his　deep　passionate　nature　and　fort　her　with　a　long　long　kiss。　It　would　be　like　heaven。　For　such　a　one　she　yearns　this　balmy　summer　eve。　With　all　the　heart　of　her　she　longs　to　be　his　only；　his　affianced　bride　for　riches　for　poor；　in　sickness　in　health；　till　death　us　two　part；　from　this　to　this　day　forward。　
And　while　Edy　Boardman　was　with　little　Tommy　behind　the　pushcar　she　was　just　thinking　would　the　day　ever　e　when　she　could　call　herself　his　little　wife　to　be。　Then　they　could　talk　about　her　till　they　went　blue　in　the　face；　Bertha　Supple　too；　and　Edy；　the　spitfire；　because　she　would　be　twenty…two　in　November。　She　would　care　for　him　with　creature　forts　too　for　Gerty　was　womanly　wise　and　knew　that　a　mere　man　liked　that　feeling　of　hominess。　Her　griddlecakes　done　to　a　golden…brown　hue　and　queen　Ann's　pudding　of　delightful　creaminess　had　won　golden　opinions　from　all　because　she　had　a　lucky　hand　also　for　lighting　a　fire；　dredge　in　the　fine　selfraising　flour　and　always　stir　in　the　same　direction　then　cream　the　milk　and　sugar　and　whisk　well　the　white　of　eggs　though　she　didn't　like　the　eating　part　when　there　were　any　people　that　made　her　shy　and　often　she　wondered　why　you　couldn't　eat　something　poetical　like　violets　or　roses　and　they　would　have　a　beautifully　appointed　drawingroom　with　pictures　and　engravings　and　the　photograph　of　grandpapa　Giltrap's　lovely　dog　Garryowen　that　almost　talked；　it　was　so　human；　and　chintz　covers　for　the　chairs　and　that　silver　toastrack　in　Clery's　summer　jumble　sales　like　they　have　in　rich　houses。　He　would　be　tall　with　broad　shoulders　（she　had　always　admired　tall　men　for　a　husband）　with　glistening　white　teeth　under　his　carefully　trimmed　sweeping　moustache　and　they　would　go　on　the　continent　for　their　honeymoon　（three　wonderful　weeks！）　and　then；　when　they　settled　down　in　a　nice　snug　and　cosy　little　homely　house；　every　morning　they　would　both　have　brekky；　simple　but　perfectly　served；　for　their　own　two　selves　and　before　he　went　out　to　business　he　would　give　his　dear　little　wifey　a　good　hearty　hug　and　gaze　for　a　moment　deep　down　into　her　eyes。　
Edy　Boardman　asked　Tommy　Caffrey　was　he　done　and　he　said　yes；　so　then　she　buttoned　up　his　little　knickerbockers　for　him　and　told　him　to　run　off　and　play　with　Jacky　and　to　be　good　now　and　not　to　fight。　But　Tommy　said　he　wanted　the　ball　and　Edy　told　him　no　that　baby　was　playing　with　the　ball　and　if　he　took　it　there'd　be　wigs　on　the　green　but　Tommy　said　it　was　his　ball　and　he　wanted　his　ball　and　he　pranced　on　the　ground；　if　you　please。　The　temper　of　him！　O；　he　was　a　man　already　was　little　Tommy　Caffrey　since　he　was　out　of　pinnies。　Edy　told　him　no；　no　and　to　he　off　now　with　him　and　she　told　Cissy　Caffrey　not　to　give　in　to　him。　
　You're　not　my　sister；　naughty　Tommy　said。　It's　my　ball。　But　Cissy　Caffrey　told　baby　Boardman　to　look　up；　look　up　high　at　her　finger　and　she　snatched　the　ball　quickly　and　threw　it　along　the　sand　and　Tommy　after　it　in　full　career；　having　won　the　day。　
　Anything　for　a　quiet　life；　laughed　Ciss。　
And　she　tickled　tiny　tot's　two　cheeks　to　make　him　forget　and　played　here's　the　lord　mayor；　here's　his　two　horses；　here's　his　gingerbread　carriage　and　here　he　walks　in；　chinchopper；　chinchopper；　chinchopper　chin。　But　Edy　got　as　cross　as　two　sticks　about　him　getting　his　own　way　like　that　from　everyone　always　petting　him。　
　I'd　like　to　give　him　something；　she　said；　so　I　would；　where　I　won't　say。　
　On　the　beetoteetom；　laughed　Cissy　merrily。　
Gerty　MacDowell　bent　down　her　head　and　crimsoned　at　the　idea　of　Cissy　saying　an　unladylike　thing　like　that　out　loud　she'd　be　ashamed　of　her　life　to　say；　flushing　a　deep　rosy　red；　and　Edy　Boardman　said　she　was　sure　the　gentleman　opposite　heard　what　she　said。　But　not　a　pin　cared　Ciss。　
　Let　him！　she　said　with　a　pert　toss　of　her　head　and　a　piquant　tilt　of　her　nose。　Give　it　to　him　too　on　the　same　place　as　quick　as　I'd　look　at　him。　
Madcap　Ciss　with　her　golliwog　curls。　You　had　to　laugh　at　her　sometimes。　For　instance　when　she　asked　you　would　you　have　some　more　Chinese　tea　and　jaspberry　ram　and　when　she　drew　the　jugs　too　and　the　men's　faces　on　her　nails　with　red　ink　make　you　split　your　sides　or　when　she　wanted　to　go　where　you　know　she　said　she　wanted　to　run　and　pay　a　visit　to　the　Miss　White。　That　was　just　like　Cissycums。　O；　and　will　you　ever　forget　the　evening　she　dressed　up　in　her　father's　suit　and　hat　and　the　burned　cork　moustache　and　walked　down　Tritonville　road；　smoking　a　cigarette？　There　was　none　to　e　up　to　her　for　fun。　But　she　was　sincerity　itself；　one　of　the　bravest　and　truest　hearts　heaven　ever　made；　not　one　of　your　twofaced　things；　too　sweet　to　be　wholesome。　
And　then　there　came　out　upon　the　air　the　sound　of　voices　and　the　pealing　anthem　of　the　organ。　It　was　the　men's　temperance　retreat　conducted　by　the　missioner；　the　reverend　John　Hughes　S。　J。；　rosary；　sermon　and　benediction　of　the　Most　Blessed　Sacrament。　They　were　there　gathered　together　without　distinction　of　social　class　（and　a　most　edifying　spectacle　it　was　to　see）　in　that　simple　fane　beside　the　waves；　after　the　storms　of　this　weary　world；　kneeling　before　the　feet　of　the　immaculate；　reciting　the　litany　of　Our　Lady　of　Loreto；　beseeching　her　to　intercede　for　them；　the　old　familiar　words；　holy　Mary；　holy　virgin　of　virgins。　How　sad　to　poor　Gerty's　ears！　Had　her　father　only　avoided　the　clutches　of　the　demon　drink；　by　taking　the　pledge　or　those　powders　the　drink　habit　cured　in　Pearson's　Weekly；　she　might　now　be　rolling　in　her　carriage；　second　to　none。　Over　and　over　had　she　told　herself　that　as　she　mused　by　the　dying　embers　in　a　brown　study　without　the　lamp　because　she　hated　two　lights　or　oftentimes　gazing　out　of　the　window　dreamily　by　the　hour　at　the　rain　falling　on　the　rusty　bucket；　thinking。　But　that　vile　decoction　which　has　ruined　so　many　hearths　and　homes　had　cast　its　shadow　over　her　childhood　days。　Nay；　she　had　even　witnessed　in　the　home　circle　deeds　of　violence　caused　by　intemperance　and　had　seen　her　own　father；　a　prey　to　the　fumes　of　intoxication；　forget　himself　pletely　for　if　there　was　one　thing　of　all　things　that　Gerty　knew　it　was　the　man　who　lifts　his　hand　to　a　woman　save　in　the　way　of　kindness　deserves　to　be　branded　as　the　lowest　of　the　low。　
And　still　the　voices　sang　in　supplication　to　the　Virgin　most　powerful；　Virgin　most　merciful。　And　Gerty；　wrapt　in　thought；　scarce　saw　or　heard　her　panions　or　the　twins　at　their　boyish　gambols　or　the　gentleman　off　Sandymount　green　that　Cissy　Caffrey　called　the　man　that　was　so　like　himself　passing　along　the　strand　taking　a　short　walk。　You　never　saw　him　anyway　screwed　but　still　and　for　all　that　she　would　not　like　him　for　a　father　because　he　was　too　old　or　something　or　on　account　of　his　face　（it　was　a　palpable　case　of　doctor　Fell）　or　his　carbuncly　nose　with　the　pimples　on　it　and　his　sandy　moustache　a　bit　white　under　his　nose。　Poor　father！　With　all　his　faults　she　loved　him　still　when　he　sang　Tell　me；　Mary；　how　to　woo　thee　or　My　love　and　cottage　near　Rochelle　and　they　had　stewed　cockles　and　lettuce　with　Lazenby's　salad　dressing　for　supper　and　when　he　sang　The　moon　hath　raised　with　Mr　Dignam　that　died　suddenly　and　was　buried；　God　have　mercy　on　him；　from　a　stroke。　Her　mother's　birthday　that　was　and　Charley　was　home　on　his　holidays　and　Tom　and　Mr　Dignam　and　Mrs　and　Patsy　and　Freddy　Dignam　and　they　were　to　have　had　a　group　taken。　No…one　would　have　thought　the　end　was　so　near。　Now　he　was　laid　to　rest。　And　her　mother　said　to　him　to　let　that　be　a　warning　to　him　for　the　rest　of　his　days　and　he　couldn't　even　go　to　the　funeral　on　account　of　the　gout　and　she　had　to　go　into　town　to　bring　him　the　letters　and　samples　from　his　office　about　Catesby's　cork　lino；　artistic　standard　designs；　fit　for　a　palace；　gives　tiptop　wear　and　always　bright　and　cheery　in　the　home。　
A　sterling　good　daughter　was　Gerty　just　like　a　second　mother　in　the　house；　a　ministering　angel　too　with　a　little　heart　worth　its　weight　in　gold。　And　when　her　mother　had　those　raging　splitting　headaches　who　was　it　rubbed　on　the　menthol　cone　on　her　forehead　but　Gerty　though　she　didn't　like　her　mother　taking　pinches　of　snuff　and　that　was　the　only　single　thing　they　ever　had　words　about；　taking　snuff。　Everyone　thought　the　world　of　her　for　her　gent