Two Gallants
Corley [...] sauntered
across the road swaying his head from side to side. His bulk, his easy
pace, and the solid sound of his boots had something of the conqueror
in them. He approached the young woman and, without saluting, began at
once to converse with her. She swung her umbrella more quickly and executed
half turns on her heels. Once or twice when he spoke to her at close quarters
she laughed and bent her head.
Lenehan observed
them for a few minutes. [... H]is eyes made a swift anxious scrutiny of
the young womans appearance. She had her Sunday finery on. Her blue serge
skirt was held at the waist by a belt of black leather. The great silver
buckle of her belt seemed to depress the centre of her body, catching
the light stuff of her white blouse like a clip. She wore a short black
jacket with mother-of-pearl buttons, and a ragged black boa. The ends
of her tulle collarette had been carefully disordered and a big bunch
of red flowers was pinned in her bosom stems upwards. Lenehans eyes noted
approvingly her stout short muscular body. Frank rude health glowed in
her face, on her fat red cheeks and in her unabashed blue eyes. Her features
were blunt. She had broad nostrils, a straggling mouth which lay open
in a contented leer, and two projecting front teeth. As he passed Lenehan
took off his cap, and, after about ten seconds, Corley returned a salute
to the air. This he did by raising his hand vaguely and pensively changing
the angle of position of his hat.
[...]
Lenehan [...] turned
to the left when he came to the corner of Rutland Square, and felt more
at ease in the dark quiet street, the sombre look of which suited his
mood. He paused at last before the window of a poor-looking shop over
which the words Refreshment Bar were printed in white letters.
On the glass of the window were two flying inscriptions: Ginger Beer
and Ginger Ale. [...] He sat down at an uncovered wooden table
opposite two work-girls and a mechanic. A slatternly girl waited on him.
[...]
He
spoke roughly in order to belie his air of gentility, for his entry had
been followed by a pause of talk. His face was heated. To appear natural
he pushed his cap back on his head and planted his elbows on the table.
The mechanic and the two work-girls examined him point by point before
resuming their conversation in a subdued voice. The girl brought him a
plate of grocers hot peas, seasoned with pepper and vinegar, a fork,
and his ginger beer. He ate his food greedily and found it so good that
he made a note of the shop mentally. When he had eaten all the peas he
sipped his ginger beer and sat for some time thinking of Corleys adventure.
In his imagination he beheld the pair of lovers walking along some dark
road; he heard Corleys voice in deep energetic gallantries, and saw again
the leer of the young womans mouth. This vision made him feel keenly
his own poverty of purse and spirit. He was tired of knocking about, of
pulling the devil by the tail, of shifts and intrigues. He would be thirty-one
in November. Would he never get a good job? Would he never have a home
of his own? He thought how pleasant it would be to have a warm fire to
sit by and a good dinner to sit down to. He had walked the streets long
enough with friends and with girls. He knew what those friends were worth:
he knew the girls too. Experience had embittered his heart against the
world. But all hope had not left him. He felt better after having eaten
than he had felt before, less weary of his life, less vanquished in spirit.
He might yet be able to settle down in some snug corner and live happily
if he could only come across some good simple-minded girl with a little
of the ready.
[...; Corley and Lenehan rejoin each other.]
They had reached
the corner of Ely Place. Still without answering, Corley swerved to the
left and went up the side street. His features were composed in stern
calm. Lenehan kept up with his friend, breathing uneasily. He was baffled,
and a note of menace pierced through his voice.
-Cant you tell us?
he said. Did you try her?
Corley halted at
the first lamp and stared grimly before him. Then with a grave gesture
he extended a hand towards the light and, smiling, opened it slowly to
the gaze of his disciple. A small gold coin shone in the palm.
|