OnceuponatimeandaverygoodtimeitwastherewasamoocowcomingdownalongtheroadandthismoocowthatwascomingdownalongtheroadmetanicenslittleboynamedbabytuckooHisfathertoldhimthatstory:hisfatherlookedathimthroughaglass:
hehadahairyface。
Hewasbabytuckoo。ThemoocowcamedowntheroadwhereBettyByrnelived:shesoldlemonplatt。O，thewildroseblossomsOnthelittlegreenplace。Hesangthatsong。Thatwashissong。O，thegreenwothebotheth。Whenyouwetthebedfirstitiswarmthenitgetscold。Hismotherputontheoilsheet。Thathadthequeersmell。
Hismotherhadanicersmellthanhisfather。Sheplayedonthepianothesailor\'shornpipeforhimtodance。Hedanced:Tralalalala，Tralalatralaladdy，Tralalalala，Tralalalala。UncleCharlesandDanteclapped。TheywereolderthanhisfatherandmotherbutuncleCharleswasolderthanDante。
Dantehadtwobrushesinherpress。ThebrushwiththemaroonvelvetbackwasforMichaelDavittandthebrushwiththegreenvelvetbackwasforParnell。Dantegavehimacachoueverytimehebroughtherapieceoftissuepaper。
TheVanceslivedinnumberseven。Theyhadadifferentfatherandmother。
TheywereEileen\'sfatherandmother。WhentheyweregrownuphewasgoingtomarryEileen。Hehidunderthetable。Hismothersaid:——
O，Stephenwillapologize。
Dantesaid:——
O，ifnot，theeagleswillcomeandpullouthiseyes——Pullouthiseyes，Apologize，Apologize，Pullouthiseyes。
Apologize，Pullouthiseyes，Pullouthiseyes，Apologize。Thewideplaygroundswereswarmingwithboys。Allwereshoutingandtheprefectsurgedthemonwithstrongcries。Theeveningairwaspaleandchillyandaftereverychargeandthudofthefootballersthegreasyleatherorbflewlikeaheavybirdthroughthegreylight。Hekeptonthefringeofhisline，outofsightofhisprefect，outofthereachoftherudefeet，feigningtorunnowandthen。Hefelthisbodysmallandweakamidthethrongoftheplayersandhiseyeswereweakandwatery。RodyKickhamwasnotlikethat:hewouldbecaptainofthethirdlineallthefellowssaid。
RodyKickhamwasadecentfellowbutNastyRochewasastink。RodyKickhamhadgreavesinhisnumberandahamperintherefectory。NastyRochehadbighands。HecalledtheFridaypuddingdog-in-the-blanket。Andonedaybehadasked:——
Whatisyourname？
Stephenhadanswered:StephenDedalus。
ThenNastyRochehadsaid:——
Whatkindofanameisthat？
AndwhenStephenhadnotbeenabletoanswerNastyRochehadasked:——
Whatisyourfather？
Stephenhadanswered:——
Agentleman。
ThenNastyRochehadasked:——
Isheamagistrate？
Hecreptaboutfrompointtopointonthefringeofhisline，makinglittlerunsnowandthen。Buthishandswerebluishwithcold。Hekepthishandsinthesidepocketsofhisbeltedgreysuit。Thatwasabeltroundhispocket。Andbeltwasalsotogiveafellowabelt。OnedayafellowsaidtoCantwell:——
I\'dgiveyousuchabeltinasecond。
Cantwellhadanswered:——
Goandfightyourmatch。GiveCecilThunderabelt。I\'dliketoseeyou。He\'dgiveyouatoeintherumpforyourself。
Thatwasnotaniceexpression。Hismotherhadtoldhimnottospeakwiththeroughboysinthecollege。Nicemother!Thefirstdayinthehallofthecastlewhenshehadsaidgoodbyeshehadputupherveildoubletohernosetokisshim:andhernoseandeyeswerered。Buthehadpretendednottoseethatshewasgoingtocry。Shewasanicemotherbutshewasnotsonicewhenshecried。Andhisfatherhadgivenhimtwofive-shillingpiecesforpocketmoney。Andhisfatherhadtoldhimifhewantedanythingtowritehometohimand，whateverhedid，nevertopeachonafellow。
Thenatthedoorofthecastletherectorhadshakenhandswithhisfatherandmother，hissoutaneflutteringinthebreeze，andthecarhaddrivenoffwithhisfatherandmotheronit。Theyhadcriedtohimfromthecar，wavingtheirhands:——
Goodbye，Stephen，goodbye!——
Goodbye，Stephen，goodbye!
Hewascaughtinthewhirlofascrimmageand，fearfuloftheflashingeyesandmuddyboots，bentdowntolookthroughthelegs。Thefellowswerestrugglingandgroaningandtheirlegswererubbingandkickingandstamping。
ThenJackLawton\'syellowbootsdodgedouttheballandalltheotherbootsandlegsranafter。Heranafterthemalittlewayandthenstopped。Itwasuselesstorunon。Soontheywouldbegoinghomefortheholidays。
Aftersupperinthestudyhallhewouldchangethenumberpastedupinsidehisdeskfromseventy-seventoseventy-six。
Itwouldbebettertobeinthestudyhallthanoutthereinthecold。
Theskywaspaleandcoldbuttherewerelightsinthecastle。HewonderedfromwhichwindowHamiltonRowanhadthrownhishatontheha-haandhadtherebeenflowerbedsatthattimeunderthewindows。Onedaywhenhehadbeencalledtothecastlethebutlerhadshownhimthemarksofthesoldiers\'
slugsinthewoodofthedoorandhadgivenhimapieceofshortbreadthatthecommunityate。Itwasniceandwarmtoseethelightsinthecastle。
Itwaslikesomethinginabook。PerhapsLeicesterAbbeywaslikethat。
AndtherewerenicesentencesinDoctorCornwell\'sSpellingBook。Theywerelikepoetrybuttheywereonlysentencestolearnthespellingfrom。WolseydiedinLeicesterAbbeyWheretheabbotsburiedhim。
Cankerisadiseaseofplanis，Canceroneofanimals。Itwouldbenicetolieonthehearthrugbeforethefire，leaninghisheaduponhishands，andthinkonthosesentences。Heshiveredasifhehadcoldslimywaternexthisskin。ThatwasmeanofWellstoshoulderhimintothesquareditchbecausehewouldnotswophislittlesnuffboxforWells\'sseasonedhackingchestnut，theconquerorofforty。Howcoldandslimythewaterhadbeen!Afellowhadonceseenabigratjumpintothescum。MotherwassittingatthefirewithDantewaitingforBrigidtobringinthetea。Shehadherfeetonthefenderandherjewellyslippersweresohotandtheyhadsuchalovelywarmsmell!Danteknewalotofthings。
ShehadtaughthimwheretheMozambiqueChannelwasandwhatwasthelongestriverinAmericaandwhatwasthenameofthehighestmountaininthemoon。
FatherArnallknewmorethanDantebecausehewasapriestbutbothhisfatheranduncleCharlessaidthatDantewasacleverwomanandawell-readwoman。AndwhenDantemadethatnoiseafterdinnerandthenputupherhandtohermouth:thatwasheartburn。
Avoicecriedfaroutontheplayground:——
Allin!
Thenothervoicescriedfromthelowerandthirdlines:——
Allin!Allin!
Theplayersclosedaround，flushedandmuddy，andhewentamongthem，gladtogoin。RodyKickhamheldtheballbyitsgreasylace。Afellowaskedhimtogiveitonelast:buthewalkedonwithoutevenansweringthefellow。SimonMoonantoldhimnottobecausetheprefectwaslooking。
ThefellowturnedtoSimonMoonanandsaid:——
Weallknowwhyyouspeak。YouareMcGlade\'ssuck。
Suckwasaqueerword。ThefellowcalledSimonMoonanthatnamebecauseSimonMoonanusedtotietheprefect\'sfalsesleevesbehindhisbackandtheprefectusedtoletontobeangry。Butthesoundwasugly。OncehehadwashedhishandsinthelavatoryoftheWicklowHotelandhisfatherpulledthestopperupbythechainafterandthedirtywaterwentdownthroughtheholeinthebasin。Andwhenithadallgonedownslowlytheholeinthebasinhadmadeasoundlikethat:suck。Onlylouder。
Torememberthatandthewhitelookofthelavatorymadehimfeelcoldandthenhot。Thereweretwococksthatyouturnedandwatercameout:
coldandhot。Hefeltcoldandthenalittlehot:andhecouldseethenamesprintedonthecocks。Thatwasaveryqueerthing。
Andtheairinthecorridorchilledhimtoo。Itwasqueerandwettish。
Butsoonthegaswouldbelitandinburningitmadealightnoiselikealittlesong。Alwaysthesame:andwhenthefellowsstoppedtalkingintheplayroomyoucouldhearit。
Itwasthehourforsums。FatherArnallwroteahardsumontheboardandthensaid:——
Nowthen，whowillwin？Goahead，York!Goahead，Lancaster!
Stephentriedhisbest，butthesumwastoohardandhefeltconfused。
Thelittlesilkbadgewiththewhiteroseonitthatwaspinnedonthebreastofhisjacketbegantoflutter。Hewasnogoodatsums，buthetriedhisbestsothatYorkmightnotlose。FatherArnall\'sfacelookedveryblack，buthewasnotinawax:hewaslaughing。ThenJackLawtoncrackedhisfingersandFatherArnalllookedathiscopybookandsaid:——
Right。BravoLancaster!Theredrosewins。Comeonnow，York!Forgeahead!
JackLawtonlookedoverfromhisside。Thelittlesilkbadgewiththeredroseonitlookedveryrichbecausehehadabluesailortopon。Stephenfelthisownfaceredtoo，thinkingofallthebetsaboutwhowouldgetfirstplaceinelements，JackLawtonorhe。SomeweeksJackLawtongotthecardforfirstandsomeweekshegotthecardforfirst。HiswhitesilkbadgeflutteredandflutteredasheworkedatthenextsumandheardFatherArnall\'svoice。Thenallhiseagernesspassedawayandhefelthisfacequitecool。Hethoughthisfacemustbewhitebecauseitfeltsocool。
Hecouldnotgetouttheanswerforthesumbutitdidnotmatter。Whiterosesandredroses:thosewerebeautifulcolourstothinkof。Andthecardsforfirstplaceandsecondplaceandthirdplacewerebeautifulcolourstoo:pinkandcreamandlavender。Lavenderandcreamandpinkroseswerebeautifultothinkof。Perhapsawildrosemightbelikethosecoloursandherememberedthesongaboutthewildroseblossomsonthelittlegreenplace。Butyoucouldnothaveagreenrose。Butperhapssomewhereintheworldyoucould。
Thebellrangandthentheclassesbegantofileoutoftheroomsandalongthecorridorstowardstherefectory。Hesatlookingatthetwoprintsofbutteronhisplatebutcouldnoteatthedampbread。Thetableclothwasdampandlimp。Buthedrankoffthehotweakteawhichtheclumsyscullion，girtwithawhiteapron，pouredintohiscup。Hewonderedwhetherthescullion\'sapronwasdamptooorwhetherallwhitethingswerecoldanddamp。NastyRocheandSaurindrankcocoathattheirpeoplesentthemintins。Theysaidtheycouldnotdrinkthetea；thatitwashogwash。Theirfathersweremagistrates，thefellowssaid。
Alltheboysseemedtohimverystrange。Theyhadallfathersandmothersanddifferentclothesandvoices。Helongedtobeathomeandlayhisheadonhismother\'slap。Buthecouldnot:andsohelongedfortheplayandstudyandprayerstobeoverandtobeinbed。
HedrankanothercupofhotteaandFlemingsaid:——
What\'sup？Haveyouapainorwhat\'supwithyou？——
Idon\'tknow，Stephensaid——
Sickinyourbreadbasket，Flemingsaid，becauseyourfacelookswhite。
Itwillgoaway——
Oyes，Stephensaid。
Buthewasnotsickthere。Hethoughtthathewassickinhisheartifyoucouldbesickinthatplace。Flemingwasverydecenttoaskhim。
Hewantedtocry。Heleanedhiselbowsonthetableandshutandopenedtheflapsofhisears。Thenheheardthenoiseoftherefectoryeverytimeheopenedtheflapsofhisears。Itmadearoarlikeatrainatnight。
Andwhenheclosedtheflapstheroarwasshutofflikeatraingoingintoatunnel。ThatnightatDalkeythetrainhadroaredlikethatandthen，whenitwentintothetunnel，theroarstopped。Heclosedhiseyesandthetrainwenton，roaringandthenstopping；roaringagain，stopping。
Itwasnicetohearitroarandstopandthenroaroutofthetunnelagainandthenstop。
Thenthehigherlinefellowsbegantocomedownalongthemattinginthemiddleoftherefectory，PaddyRathandJimmyMageeandtheSpaniardwhowasallowedtosmokecigarsandthelittlePortuguesewhoworethewoollycap。Andthenthelowerlinetablesandthetablesofthethirdline。Andeverysinglefellowhadadifferentwayofwalking。
Hesatinacorneroftheplayroompretendingtowatchagameofdominoesandonceortwicehewasabletohearforaninstantthelittlesongofthegas。TheprefectwasatthedoorwithsomeboysandSimonMoonanwasknottinghisfalsesleeves。HewastellingthemsomethingaboutTullabeg。
ThenhewentawayfromthedoorandWellscameovertoStephenandsaid:——
Tellus，Dedalus，doyoukissyourmotherbeforeyougotobed？
Stephenanswered:——
Ido。
Wellsturnedtotheotherfellowsandsaid:——
O，Isay，here\'safellowsayshekisseshismothereverynightbeforehegoestobed。
Theotherfellowsstoppedtheirgameandturnedround，laughing。Stephenblushedundertheireyesandsaid:——
Idonot。
Wellssaid:——
O，Isay，here\'safellowsayshedoesn\'tkisshismotherbeforehegoestobed。
Theyalllaughedagain。Stephentriedtolaughwiththem。Hefelthiswholebodyhotandconfusedinamoment。Whatwastherightanswertothequestion？HehadgiventwoandstillWellslaughed。ButWellsmustknowtherightanswerforhewasinthirdofgrammar。HetriedtothinkofWells\'smotherbuthedidnotdaretoraisehiseyestoWells\'sface。HedidnotlikeWells\'sface。ItwasWellswhohadshoulderedhimintothesquareditchthedaybeforebecausehewouldnotswophislittlesnuffboxforWells\'sseasonedhackingchestnut，theconquerorofforty。Itwasameanthingtodo；allthefellowssaiditwas。Andhowcoldandslimythewaterhadbeen!Andafellowhadonceseenabigratjumpplopintothescum。
Thecoldslimeoftheditchcoveredhiswholebody；and，whenthebellrangforstudyandthelinesfiledoutoftheplayrooms，hefeltthecoldairofthecorridorandstaircaseinsidehisclothes。Hestilltriedtothinkwhatwastherightanswer。Wasitrighttokisshismotherorwrongtokisshismother？Whatdidthatmean，tokiss？Youputyourfaceuplikethattosaygoodnightandthenhismotherputherfacedown。Thatwastokiss。Hismotherputherlipsonhischeek；herlipsweresoftandtheywettedhischeek；andtheymadeatinylittlenoise:kiss。Whydidpeopledothatwiththeirtwofaces？
Sittinginthestudyhallheopenedthelidofhisdeskandchangedthenumberpastedupinsidefromseventy-seventoseventy-six。ButtheChristmasvacationwasveryfaraway:butonetimeitwouldcomebecausetheearthmovedroundalways。
Therewasapictureoftheearthonthefirstpageofhisgeography:
abigballinthemiddleofclouds。Fleminghadaboxofcrayonsandonenightduringfreestudyhehadcolouredtheearthgreenandthecloudsmaroon。ThatwaslikethetwobrushesinDante\'spress，thebrushwiththegreenvelvetbackforParnellandthebrushwiththemaroonvelvetbackforMichaelDavitt。ButhehadnottoldFlemingtocolourthemthosecolours。Fleminghaddoneithimself。
Heopenedthegeographytostudythelesson；buthecouldnotlearnthenamesofplacesinAmerica。Stilltheywerealldifferentplacesthathaddifferentnames。Theywereallindifferentcountriesandthecountrieswereincontinentsandthecontinentswereintheworldandtheworldwasintheuniverse。
Heturnedtotheflyleafofthegeographyandreadwhathehadwrittenthere:himself，hisnameandwherehewas。StephenDedalusClassofElementsClongowesWoodCollegeSallinsCountyKildareIrelandEuropeTheWorldTheUniverseThatwasinhiswriting:andFlemingonenightforacodhadwrittenontheoppositepage:StephenDedalusismyname，Irelandismynation。
ClongowesismydwellingplaceAndheavenmyexpectation。Hereadtheversesbackwardsbutthentheywerenotpoetry。Thenhereadtheflyleaffromthebottomtothetoptillhecametohisownname。Thatwashe:andhereaddownthepageagain。Whatwasaftertheuniverse？
Nothing。Butwasthereanythingroundtheuniversetoshowwhereitstoppedbeforethenothingplacebegan？
Itcouldnotbeawall；buttherecouldbeathinthinlinethereallroundeverything。Itwasverybigtothinkabouteverythingandeverywhere。
OnlyGodcoulddothat。Hetriedtothinkwhatabigthoughtthatmustbe；buthecouldonlythinkofGod。GodwasGod\'snamejustashisnamewasStephen。DieuwastheFrenchforGodandthatwasGod\'snametoo；andwhenanyoneprayedtoGodandsaidDieuthenGodknewatoncethatitwasaFrenchpersonthatwaspraying。But，thoughthereweredifferentnamesforGodinallthedifferentlanguagesintheworldandGodunderstoodwhatallthepeoplewhoprayedsaidintheirdifferentlanguages，stillGodremainedalwaysthesameGodandGod\'srealnamewasGod。
Itmadehimverytiredtothinkthatway。Itmadehimfeelhisheadverybig。Heturnedovertheflyleafandlookedwearilyatthegreenroundearthinthemiddleofthemaroonclouds。Hewonderedwhichwasright，tobeforthegreenorforthemaroon，becauseDantehadrippedthegreenvelvetbackoffthebrushthatwasforParnellonedaywithherscissorsandhadtoldhimthatParnellwasabadman。Hewonderediftheywerearguingathomeaboutthat。Thatwascalledpolitics。Thereweretwosidesinit:
DantewasononesideandhisfatherandMrCaseywereontheothersidebuthismotheranduncleCharleswereonnoside。Everydaytherewassomethinginthepaperaboutit。
Itpainedhimthathedidnotknowwellwhatpoliticsmeantandthathedidnotknowwheretheuniverseended。Hefeltsmallandweak。Whenwouldhebelikethefellowsinpoetryandrhetoric？Theyhadbigvoicesandbigbootsandtheystudiedtrigonometry。Thatwasveryfaraway。Firstcamethevacationandthenthenexttermandthenvacationagainandthenagainanothertermandthenagainthevacation。Itwaslikeatraingoinginandoutoftunnelsandthatwaslikethenoiseoftheboyseatingintherefectorywhenyouopenedandclosedtheflapsoftheears。Term，vacation；
tunnel，out；noise，stop。Howfarawayitwas!Itwasbettertogotobedtosleep。Onlyprayersinthechapelandthenbed。Heshiveredandyawned。
Itwouldbelovelyinbedafterthesheetsgotabithot。Firsttheyweresocoldtogetinto。Heshiveredtothinkhowcoldtheywerefirst。Butthentheygothotandthenhecouldsleep。Itwaslovelytobetired。Heyawnedagain。Nightprayersandthenbed:heshiveredandwantedtoyawn。
Itwouldbelovelyinafewminutes。Hefeltawarmglowcreepingupfromthecoldshiveringsheets，warmerandwarmertillhefeltwarmallover，eversowarmandyetheshiveredalittleandstillwantedtoyawn。
Thebellrangfornightprayersandhefiledoutofthestudyhallaftertheothersanddownthestaircaseandalongthecorridorstothechapel。
Thecorridorsweredarklylitandthechapelwasdarklylit。Soonallwouldbedarkandsleeping。Therewascoldnightairinthechapelandthemarbleswerethecolourtheseawasatnight。Theseawascolddayandnight:butitwascolderatnight。Itwascoldanddarkundertheseawallbesidehisfather\'shouse。Butthekettlewouldbeonthehobtomakepunch。
Theprefectofthechapelprayedabovehisheadandhismemoryknewtheresponses:OLOrdopenourlipsAndourmouthsshallannounceThypraise。
Inclineuntoouraid，OGod!
OLordmakehastetohelpus!Therewasacoldnightsmellinthechapel。Butitwasaholysmell。ItwasnotlikethesmelloftheoldpeasantswhokneltatthebackofthechapelatSundaymass。Thatwasasmellofairandrainandturfandcorduroy。
Buttheywereveryholypeasants。TheybreathedbehindhimOnhisneckandsighedastheyprayed。TheylivedinClane，afellowsaid:therewerelittlecottagesthereandhehadseenawomanstandingatthehalf-doorofacottagewithachildinherarmsasthecarshadcomepastfromSallins。
Itwouldbelovelytosleepforonenightinthatcottagebeforethefireofsmokingturf，inthedarklitbythefire，inthewarmdark，breathingthesmellofthepeasants，airandrainandturfandcorduroy。ButO，theroadtherebetweenthetreeswasdark!Youwouldbelostinthedark。Itmadehimafraidtothinkofhowitwas。
Heheardthevoiceoftheprefectofthechapelsayingthelastprayers。
Heprayedittooagainstthedarkoutsideunderthetrees。Visit，webeseechThee，OLord，thishabitationanddriveawayfromitallthesnaresoftheenemy。MayThyholyangelsdwellhereintopreserveusinpeaceandmayThyblessingsbealwaysuponusthroughChristourLord。
Amen。Hisfingerstrembledasheundressedhimselfinthedormitory。Hetoldhisfingerstohurryup。Hehadtoundressandthenkneelandsayhisownprayersandbeinbedbeforethegaswasloweredsothathemightnotgotohellwhenhedied。Herolledhisstockingsoffandputonhisnightshirtquicklyandknelttremblingathisbedsideandrepeatedhisprayersquickly，fearingthatthegaswouldgodown。Hefelthisshouldersshakingashemurmured:Godblessmyfatherandmymotherandsparethemtome!
Godblessmylittlebrothersandsistersandsparethemtome!
GodblessDanteandUncleCharlesandsparethemtome!Heblessedhimselfandclimbedquicklyintobedand，tuckingtheendofthenightshirtunderhisfeet，curledhimselftogetherunderthecoldwhitesheets，shakingandtrembling。Buthewouldnotgotohellwhenhedied；
andtheshakingwouldstop。Avoicebadetheboysinthedormitorygoodnight。Hepeeredoutforaninstantoverthecoverletandsawtheyellowcurtainsroundandbeforehisbedthatshuthimoffonallsides。Thelightwasloweredquietly。
Theprefect\'sshoeswentaway。Where？Downthestaircaseandalongthecorridorsortohisroomattheend？Hesawthedark。Wasittrueabouttheblackdogthatwalkedthereatnightwitheyesasbigascarriage-lamps？
Theysaiditwastheghostofamurderer。Alongshiveroffearflowedoverhisbody。Hesawthedarkentrancehallofthecastle。Oldservantsinolddresswereintheironing-roomabovethestaircase。Itwaslongago。Theoldservantswerequiet。Therewasafirethere，butthehallwasstilldark。Afigurecameupthestaircasefromthehall。Heworethewhitecloakofamarshal；hisfacewaspaleandstrange；heheldhishandpressedtohisside。Helookedoutofstrangeeyesattheoldservants。
Theylookedathimandsawtheirmaster\'sfaceandcloakandknewthathehadreceivedhisdeath-wound。Butonlythedarkwaswheretheylooked:
onlydarksilentair。Theirmasterhadreceivedhisdeath-woundonthebattlefieldofPraguefarawayoverthesea。Hewasstandingonthefield；
hishandwaspressedtohisside；hisfacewaspaleandstrangeandheworethewhitecloakofamarshal。
Ohowcoldandstrangeitwastothinkofthat!Allthedarkwascoldandstrange。Therewerepalestrangefacesthere，greateyeslikecarriage-lamps。
Theyweretheghostsofmurderers，thefiguresofmarshalswhohadreceivedtheirdeath-woundonbattlefieldsfarawayoverthesea。Whatdidtheywishtosaythattheirfacesweresostrange？Visit，webeseechThee，OLord，thishabitationanddriveawayfromitallGoinghomefortheholidays!Thatwouldbelovely:thefellowshadtoldhim。Gettinguponthecarsintheearlywintrymorningoutsidethedoorofthecastle。Thecarswererollingonthegravel。Cheersfortherector!
Hurray!Hurray!Hurray!
Thecarsdrovepastthechapelandallcapswereraised。Theydrovemerrilyalongthecountryroads。ThedriverspointedwiththeirwhipstoBodenstown。Thefellowscheered。TheypassedthefarmhouseoftheJollyFarmer。Cheeraftercheeraftercheer。ThroughClanetheydrove，cheeringandcheered。Thepeasantwomenstoodatthehalf-doors，themenstoodhereandthere。Thelovelysmelltherewasinthewintryair:thesmellofClane:
rainandwintryairandturfsmoulderingandcorduroy。
Thetrainwasfulloffellows:alonglongchocolatetrainwithcreamfacings。Theguardswenttoandfroopening，closing，locking，unlockingthedoors。Theyweremenindarkblueandsilver；theyhadsilverywhistlesandtheirkeysmadeaquickmusic:click，click:click，click。
AndthetrainracedonovertheflatlandsandpasttheHillofAllen。
Thetelegraphpoleswerepassing，passing。Thetrainwentonandon。Itknew。Therewerelanternsinthehallofhisfather\'shouseandropesofgreenbranches。Therewerehollyandivyroundthepierglassandhollyandivy，greenandred，twinedroundthechandeliers。Therewereredhollyandgreenivyroundtheoldportraitsonthewalls。HollyandivyforhimandforChristmas。
LovelyAllthepeople。Welcomehome，Stephen!Noisesofwelcome。Hismotherkissedhim。Wasthatright？Hisfatherwasamarshalnow:higherthanamagistrate。Welcomehome，Stephen!
NoisesTherewasanoiseofcurtain-ringsrunningbackalongtherods，ofwaterbeingsplashedinthebasins。Therewasanoiseofrisinganddressingandwashinginthedormitory:anoiseofclappingofhandsastheprefectwentupanddowntellingthefellowstolooksharp。Apalesunlightshowedtheyellowcurtainsdrawnback，thetossedbeds。Hisbedwasveryhotandhisfaceandbodywereveryhot。
Hegotupandsatonthesideofhisbed。Hewasweak。Hetriedtopullonhisstocking。Ithadahorridroughfeel。Thesunlightwasqueerandcold。
Flemingsaid:——
Areyounotwell？
Hedidnotknow；andFlemingsaid:——
Getbackintobed。I\'lltellMcGladeyou\'renotwell——
He\'ssick——
Whois？——
TellMcGlade——
Getbackintobed——
Ishesick？
Afellowheldhisarmswhileheloosenedthestockingclingingtohisfootandclimbedbackintothehotbed。
Hecroucheddownbetweenthesheets，gladoftheirtepidglow。Heheardthefellowstalkamongthemselvesabouthimastheydressedformass。Itwasameanthingtodo，toshoulderhimintothesquareditch，theyweresaying——Thentheirvoicesceased；theyhadgone。Avoiceathisbedsaid:——
Dedalus，don\'tspyonus，sureyouwon\'t？
Wells\'sfacewasthere。HelookedatitandsawthatWellswasafraid——
Ididn\'tmeanto。Sureyouwon\'t？
Hisfatherhadtoldhim，whateverhedid，nevertopeachonafellow。
Heshookhisheadandanswerednoandfeltglad。
Wellssaid:——
Ididn\'tmeanto，honourbright。Itwasonlyforcod。I\'msorry。
Thefaceandthevoicewentaway。Sorrybecausehewasafraid。Afraidthatitwassomedisease。Cankerwasadiseaseofplantsandcanceroneofanimals:oranotherdifferent。Thatwasalongtimeagothenoutontheplaygroundsintheeveninglight，creepingfrompointtopointonthefringeofhisline，aheavybirdflyinglowthroughthegreylight。LeicesterAbbeylitup。Wolseydiedthere。Theabbotsburiedhimthemselves。
ItwasnotWells\'sface，itwastheprefect\'s。Hewasnotfoxing。No，no:hewassickreally。Hewasnotfoxing。Andhefelttheprefect\'shandonhisforehead；andhefelthisforeheadwarmanddampagainsttheprefect\'scolddamphand。Thatwasthewayaratfelt，slimyanddampandcold。Everyrathadtwoeyestolookoutof。Sleekslimycoats，littlelittlefeettuckeduptojump，blackslimyeyestolookoutof。Theycouldunderstandhowtojump。Butthemindsofratscouldnotunderstandtrigonometry。Whentheyweredeadtheylayontheirsides。Theircoatsdriedthen。Theywereonlydeadthings。
Theprefectwasthereagainanditwashisvoicethatwassayingthathewastogetup，thatFatherMinisterhadsaidhewastogetupanddressandgototheinfirmary。Andwhilehewasdressinghimselfasquicklyashecouldtheprefectsaid:——
WemustpackofftoBrotherMichaelbecausewehavethecollywobbles!
Hewasverydecenttosaythat。Thatwasalltomakehimlaugh。Buthecouldnotlaughbecausehischeeksandlipswereallshivery:andthentheprefecthadtolaughbyhimself。
Theprefectcried:——
Quickmarch!Hayfoot!Strawfoot!
Theywenttogetherdownthestaircaseandalongthecorridorandpastthebath。Ashepassedthedoorherememberedwithavaguefearthewarmturf-colouredbogwater，thewarmmoistair，thenoiseofplunges，thesmellofthetowels，likemedicine。
BrotherMichaelwasstandingatthedooroftheinfirmaryandfromthedoorofthedarkcabinetonhisrightcameasmelllikemedicine。Thatcamefromthebottlesontheshelves。TheprefectspoketoBrotherMichaelandBrotherMichaelansweredandcalledtheprefectsir。Hehadreddishhairmixedwithgreyandaqueerlook。Itwasqueerthathewouldalwaysbeabrother。Itwasqueertoothatyoucouldnotcallhimsirbecausehewasabrotherandhadadifferentkindoflook。Washenotholyenoughorwhycouldhenotcatchupontheothers？
Thereweretwobedsintheroomandinonebedtherewasafellow:andwhentheywentinhecalledout:——
Hello!It\'syoungDedalus!What\'sup？——
Theskyisup，BrotherMichaelsaid。
Hewasafellowoutofthethirdofgrammarand，whileStephenwasundressing，heaskedBrotherMichaeltobringhimaroundofbutteredtoast——
Ah，do!hesaid——
Butteryouup!saidBrotherMichael。You\'llgetyourwalkingpapersinthemorningwhenthedoctorcomes——
WillI？thefellowsaid。I\'mnotwellyet。
BrotherMichaelrepeated:——
You\'llgetyourwalkingpapers。Itellyou。
Hebentdowntorakethefire。Hehadalongbacklikethelongbackofatramhorse。Heshookthepokergravelyandnoddedhisheadatthefellowoutofthirdofgrammar。
ThenBrotherMichaelwentawayandafterawhilethefellowoutofthirdofgrammarturnedintowardsthewallandfellasleep。
Thatwastheinfirmary。Hewassickthen。Hadtheywrittenhometotellhismotherandfather？Butitwouldbequickerforoneoftheprieststogohimselftotellthem。Orhewouldwritealetterforthepriesttobring。DearMother，Iamsick。Iwanttogohome。Pleasecomeandtakemehome。Iamintheinfirmary。
Yourfondson，StephenHowfarawaytheywere!Therewascoldsunlightoutsidethewindow。Hewonderedifhewoulddie。Youcoulddiejustthesameonasunnyday。Hemightdiebeforehismothercame。ThenhewouldhaveadeadmassinthechapellikethewaythefellowshadtoldhimitwaswhenLittlehaddied。
Allthefellowswouldbeatthemass，dressedinblack，allwithsadfaces。
Wellstoowouldbetherebutnofellowwouldlookathim。Therectorwouldbethereinacopeofblackandgoldandtherewouldbetallyellowcandlesonthealtarandroundthecatafalque。Andtheywouldcarrythecoffinoutofthechapelslowlyandhewouldbeburiedinthelittlegraveyardofthecommunityoffthemainavenueoflimes。AndWellswouldbesorrythenforwhathehaddone。Andthebellwouldtollslowly。
