尤利西斯-第66章

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s　thoughts。　Dearer　than　the　whole　world　would　she　be　to　him　and　gild　his　days　with　happiness。　There　was　the　allimportant　question　and　she　was　dying　to　know　was　he　a　married　man　or　a　widower　who　had　lost　his　wife　or　some　tragedy　like　the　nobleman　with　the　foreign　name　from　the　land　of　song　had　to　have　her　put　into　a　madhouse；　cruel　only　to　be　kind。　But　even　if　…　what　then？　Would　it　make　a　very　great　difference？　From　everything　in　the　least　indelicate　her　finebred　nature　instinctively　recoiled。　She　loathed　that　sort　of　person；　the　fallen　women　off　the　acmodation　walk　beside　the　Dodder　that　went　with　the　soldiers　and　coarse　men；　with　no　respect　for　a　girl's　honour；　degrading　the　sex　and　being　taken　up　to　the　police　station。　No；　no：　not　that。　They　would　be　just　good　friends　like　a　big　brother　and　sister　without　all　that　other　in　spite　of　the　conventions　of　Society　with　a　big　ess。　Perhaps　it　was　an　old　flame　he　was　in　mourning　for　from　the　days　beyond　recall。　She　thought　she　understood。　She　would　try　to　understand　him　because　men　were　so　different。　The　old　love　was　waiting；　waiting　with　little　white　hands　stretched　out；　with　blue　appealing　eyes。　Heart　of　mine！　She　would　follow　her　dream　of　love；　the　dictates　of　her　heart　that　told　her　he　was　her　all　in　all；　the　only　man　in　all　the　world　for　her　for　love　was　the　master　guide。　Nothing　else　mattered。　e　what　might　she　would　be　wild；　untrammelled；　free。　
Canon　O'Hanlon　put　the　Blessed　Sacrament　back　into　the　tabernacle　and　the　choir　sang　Laudate　Dominum　omnes　gentes　and　then　he　locked　the　tabernacle　door　because　the　benediction　was　over　and　Father　Conroy　handed　him　his　hat　to　put　on　and　crosscat　Edy　asked　wasn't　she　ing　but　Jacky　Caffrey　called　out：　
　O；　look；　Cissy！　
And　they　all　looked　was　it　sheet　lightning　but　Tommy　saw　it　too　over　the　trees　beside　the　church；　blue　and　then　green　and　purple。　
　It's　fireworks；　Cissy　Caffrey　said。　
And　they　all　ran　down　the　strand　to　see　over　the　houses　and　the　church；　helterskelter；　Edy　with　the　pushcar　with　baby　Boardman　in　it　and　Cissy　holding　Tommy　and　Jacky　by　the　hand　so　they　wouldn't　fall　running。　
　e　on；　Gerty；　Cissy　called。　It's　the　bazaar　fireworks。　
But　Gerty　was　adamant。　She　had　no　intention　of　being　at　their　beck　and　call。　If　they　could　run　like　rossies　she　could　sit　so　she　said　she　could　see　from　where　she　was。　The　eyes　that　were　fastened　upon　her　set　her　pulses　tingling。　She　looked　at　him　a　moment；　meeting　his　glance；　and　a　light　broke　in　upon　her。　Whitehot　passion　was　in　that　face；　passion　silent　as　the　grave；　and　it　had　made　her　his。　At　last　they　were　left　alone　without　the　others　to　pry　and　pass　remarks　and　she　knew　he　could　be　trusted　to　the　death；　steadfast；　a　sterling　man；　a　man　of　inflexible　honour　to　his　fingertips。　His　hands　and　face　were　working　and　a　tremor　went　over　her。　She　leaned　back　far　to　look　up　where　the　fireworks　were　and　she　caught　her　knee　in　her　hands　so　as　not　to　fall　back　looking　up　and　there　was　no　one　to　see　only　him　and　her　when　she　revealed　all　her　graceful　beautifully　shaped　legs　like　that；　supply　soft　and　delicately　rounded；　and　she　seemed　to　hear　the　panting　of　his　heart；　his　hoarse　breathing；　because　she　knew　about　the　passion　of　men　like　that；　hot…blooded；　because　Bertha　Supple　told　her　once　in　dead　secret　and　made　her　swear　she'd　never　about　the　gentleman　lodger　that　was　staying　with　them　out　of　the　Congested　Districts　Board　that　had　pictures　cut　out　of　papers　of　those　skirtdancers　and　highkickers　and　she　said　he　used　to　do　something　not　very　nice　that　you　could　imagine　sometimes　in　the　bed。　But　this　was　altogether　different　from　a　thing　like　that　because　there　was　all　the　difference　because　she　could　almost　feel　him　draw　her　face　to　his　and　the　first　quick　hot　touch　of　his　handsome　lips。　Besides　there　was　absolution　so　long　as　you　didn't　do　the　other　thing　before　being　married　and　there　ought　to　be　women　priests　that　would　understand　without　your　telling　out　and　Cissy　Caffrey　too　sometimes　had　that　dreamy　kind　of　dreamy　look　in　her　eyes　so　that　she　too；　my　dear；　and　Winny　Rippingham　so　mad　about　actors'　photographs　and　besides　it　was　on　account　of　that　other　thing　ing　on　the　way　it　did。　
And　Jacky　Caffrey　shouted　to　look；　there　was　another　and　she　leaned　back　and　the　garters　were　blue　to　match　on　account　of　the　transparent　and　they　all　saw　it　and　shouted　to　look；　look　there　it　was　and　she　leaned　back　ever　so　far　to　see　the　fireworks　and　something　queer　was　flying　about　through　the　air；　a　soft　thing　to　and　fro；　dark。　And　she　saw　a　long　Roman　candle　going　up　over　the　trees　up；　up；　and；　in　the　tense　hush；　they　were　all　breathless　with　excitement　as　it　went　higher　and　higher　and　she　had　to　lean　back　more　and　more　to　look　up　after　it；　high；　high；　almost　out　of　sight；　and　her　face　was　suffused　with　a　divine；　an　entrancing　blush　from　straining　back　and　he　could　see　her　other　things　too；　nainsook　knickers；　the　fabric　that　caresses　the　skin；　better　than　those　other　pettiwidth；　the　green；　four　and　eleven；　on　account　of　being　white　and　she　let　him　and　she　saw　that　he　saw　and　then　it　went　so　high　it　went　out　of　sight　a　moment　and　she　was　trembling　in　every　limb　from　being　bent　so　far　back　he　had　a　full　view　high　up　above　her　knee　no…one　ever　not　even　on　the　swing　or　wading　and　she　wasn't　ashamed　and　he　wasn't　either　to　look　in　that　immodest　way　like　that　because　he　couldn't　resist　the　sight　of　the　wondrous　revealment　half　offered　like　those　skirt…dancers　behaving　so　immodest　before　gentlemen　looking　and　he　kept　on　looking；　looking。　She　would　fain　have　cried　to　him　chokingly；　held　out　her　snowy　slender　arms　to　him　to　e；　to　feel　his　lips　laid　on　her　white　brow　the　cry　of　a　young　girl's　love；　a　little　strangled　cry；　wrung　from　her；　that　cry　that　has　rung　through　the　ages。　And　then　a　rocket　sprang　and　bang　shot　blind　and　O！　then　the　Roman　candle　burst　and　it　was　like　a　sigh　of　O！　and　everyone　cried　O！O！　in　raptures　and　it　gushed　out　of　it　a　stream　of　rain　gold　hair　threads　and　they　shed　and　ah！　they　were　all　greeny　dewy　stars　falling　with　golden；　O　so　lively！　O　so　soft；　sweet；　soft！　
Then　all　melted　away　dewily　in　the　grey　air：　all　was　silent。　Ah！　She　glanced　at　him　as　she　bent　forward　quickly；　a　pathetic　little　glance　of　piteous　protest；　of　shy　reproach　under　which　he　coloured　like　a　girl。　He　was　leaning　back　against　the　rock　behind。　Leopold　Bloom　（for　it　is　he）　stands　silent；　with　bowed　head　before　those　young　guileless　eyes。　What　a　brute　he　had　been！　At　it　again？　A　fair　unsullied　soul　had　called　to　him　and；　wretch　that　he　was；　how　had　he　answered？　An　utter　cad　he　had　been。　He　of　all　men！　But　there　was　an　infinite　store　of　mercy　in　those　eyes；　for　him　too　a　word　of　pardon　even　though　he　had　erred　and　sinned　and　wandered。　Should　a　girl　tell？　No；　a　thousand　times　no。　That　was　their　secret；　only　theirs；　alone　in　the　hiding　twilight　and　there　was　none　to　know　or　tell　save　the　little　bat　that　flew　so　softly　through　the　evening　to　and　fro　and　little　bats　don't　tell。　
Cissy　Caffrey　whistled；　imitating　the　boys　in　the　football　field　to　show　what　a　great　person　she　was：　and　then　she　cried：　
　Gerty！　Gerty！　We're　going。　e　on。　We　can　see　from　farther　up。　
Gerty　had　an　idea；　one　of　love's　little　ruses。　She　slipped　a　hand　into　her　kerchief　pocket　and　took　out　the　wadding　and　waved　in　reply　of　course　without　letting　him　and　then　slipped　it　back。　Wonder　if　he's　too　far　to。　She　rose。　Was　it　goodbye？　No。　She　had　to　go　but　they　would　meet　again；　there；　and　she　would　dream　of　that　till　then；　tomorrow；　of　her　dream　of　yester　eve。　She　drew　herself　up　to　her　full　height。　Their　souls　bet　in　a　last　lingering　glance　and　the　eyes　that　reached　her　heart；　full　of　a　strange　shining；　hung　enraptured　on　her　sweet　flowerlike　face。　She　half　smiled　at　him　wanly；　a　sweet　forgiving　smile；　a　smile　that　verged　on　tears；　and　then　they　parted。　
Slowly　without　looking　back　she　went　down　the　uneven　strand　to　Cissy；　to　Edy；　to　Jacky　and　Tommy　Caffrey；　to　little　baby　Boardman。　It　was　darker　now　and　there　were　stones　and　bits　of　wood　on　the　strand　and　slippy　seaweed。　She　balked　with　a　certain　quiet　dignity　characteristic　of　her　but　with　care　and　very　slowly　because　Gerty　MacDowell　was。。。　
Tight　boots？　No。　She's　lame！　O！　
Mr　Bloom　watched　her　as　she　limped　away。　Poor　girl！　That's　why　she's　left　on　the　shelf　and　the　others　did　a　sprint。　Thought　something　was　wrong　by　the　cut　of　her　jib。　Jilted　beauty。　A　defect　is　ten　times　worse　in　a　woman。　But　makes　them　polite。　Glad　I　didn't　know　it　when　she　was　on　show。　Hot　little　devil　all　The　same。　Wouldn't　mind。　Curiosity　like　a　nun　or　a　negress　or　a　girl　with　glasses。　That　squinty　one　is　delicate。　Near　her　monthlies；　I　expect；　makes　them　feel　ticklish。　I　have　such　a　bad　headache　today。　Where　did　I　put　the　letter？　Yes；　all　right。　All　kinds　of　crazy　longings。　Licking　pennies。　Girl　in　Tranquilla　convent　that　nun　told　me　liked　to　smell　rock　oil。　Virgins　go　mad　in　the　end　I　suppose。　Sister？　How　many　women　in　Dublin　have　it　today？　Martha；　she。　Something　in　the　air。　That's　the　moon。　But　then　why　don't　all　women　menstruate　at　the　same　time　with　same　moon；　I　mean？　Depends　on　the　time　they　were　born；　I　suppose。　Or　all　start　scratch　then　get　out　of　step。　Sometimes　Molly　and　Milly　together。　Anyhow　I　got　the　best　of　that。　Damned　glad　I　didn't　do　it　in　the　bath　this　morning　over　her　silly　I　will　punish　you　letter。　Made　up　for　that　tramdriver　this　morning。　That　gouger　M'Coy　stopping　me　to　say　nothing。　And　his　wife　engagement　in　the　country　valise；　voice　like　a　pickaxe。　Thankful　for　small　mercies。　Cheap　too。　Yours　for　the　asking。　Because　they　want　it　themselves。　Their　natural　craving。　Shoals　of　them　every　evening　poured　out　of　offices。　Reserve　better。　Don't　want　it　they　throw　it　at　you。　Catch　em　alive；　O。　Pity　they　can't　see　themselves。　A　dream　of　wellfilled　hose。　Where　was　that？　Ah；　yes。　Muioscope　pictures　in　Capel　street：　for　men　only。　Peeping　Tom。　Willy's　hat　and　what　the　girls　did　with　it。　Do　they　snapshot　those　girls　or　is　it　all　a　fake？　Lingerie　does　it。　Felt　for　the　curves　inside　her　deshabillé。　Excites　them　also　when　they're。　I'm　all　clean　e　and　dirty　me。　And　they　like　dressing　one　another　for　the　sacrifice。　Milly　delighted　with　Molly's　new　blouse。　At　first。　Put　them　all　on　to　take　them　all　off。　Molly。　Why　I　bought　her　the　violet　garters。　Us　too：　the　tie　he　wore；　his　lovely　socks　and　turnedup　trousers。　He　wore　a　pair　of　gaiters　the　night　that　first　we　met。　His　lovely　shirt　was　shining　beneath　his　what？　of　jet。　Say　a　woman　loses　a　charm　with　every　pin　she　takes　out。　Pinned　together。　O　Mairy　lost　the　pin　of　her。　Dressed　up　to　the　nines　for　somebody。　Fashion　part　of　their　charm。　Just　changes　when　you're　on　the　track　of　the　secret。　Except　the　east：　Mary；　Martha：　now　as　then。　No　reasonable　offer　refused。　She　wasn't　in　a　hurry　either。　Always　off　to　a　fellow　when　they　are。　They　never　forget　an　appointment。　Out　on　spec　probably。　They　believe　in　chance　because　like　themselves。　And　the　others　inclined　to　give　her　an　odd　dig。　Girl　friends　at　school；　arms　round　each　other's　neck　or　with　ten　fingers　locked；　kissing　and　whispering　secrets　about　nothing　in　the　convent　garden。　Nuns　with　whitewashed　faces；　cool　coif　and　their　rosaries　going　up　and　down；　vindictive　too　for　what　they　can't　get。　Barbed　wire。　Be　sure　now　and　write　to　me。　And　I'll　write　t