Wehadafamouslaughtogetheroverit。Ha!Ha!Ha!
MrDedalusturnedtohiswifeandinterjectedinhisnaturalvoice:——
Showsyouthespiritinwhichtheytaketheboysthere。O，ajesuitforyourlife，fordiplomacy!
Hereassumedtheprovincial\'svoiceandrepeated:——
ItoldthemallatdinneraboutitandFatherDolanandIandallofuswehadaheartylaughtogetheroverit。Ha!Ha!Ha!
ThenightoftheWhitsuntideplayhadcomeandStephenfromthewindowofthedressing-roomlookedoutonthesmallgrass-plotacrosswhichlinesofChineselanternswerestretched。Hewatchedthevisitorscomedownthestepsfromthehouseandpassintothetheatre。Stewardsineveningdress，oldBelvedereans，loiteredingroupsabouttheentrancetothetheatreandusheredinthevisitorswithCeremony。Underthesuddenglowofalanternhecouldrecognizethesmilingfaceofapriest。
TheBlessedSacramenthadbeenremovedfromthetabernacleandthefirstbencheshadbeendrivenbacksoastoleavethedaisofthealtarandthespacebeforeitfree。AgainstthewallsstoodcompaniesofbarbellsandIndianclubs；thedumbbellswerepiledinonecorner:andinthemidstofcountlesshillocksofgymnasiumshoesandsweatersandsingletsinuntidybrownparcelstherestoodthestoutleather-jacketedvaultinghorsewaitingitsturntobecarrieduponthestageandsetinthemiddleofthewinningteamattheendofthegymnasticdisplay。
Stephen，thoughindeferencetohisreputationforessaywritinghehadbeenelectedsecretarytothegymnasium，hadhadnopartinthefirstsectionoftheprogrammebutintheplaywhichformedthesecondsectionhehadthechiefpart，thatofafarcicalpedagogue。HehadbeencastforitonaccountofhisstatureandgravemannersforhewasnowattheendofhissecondyearatBelvedereandinnumbertwo。
Ascoreoftheyoungerboysinwhiteknickersandsingletscamepatteringdownfromthestage，throughthevestryandtothechapel。Thevestryandchapelwerepeopledwitheagermastersandboys。Theplumpbaldsergeantmajorwastestingwithhisfootthespringboardofthevaultinghorse。
Theleanyoungmaninalongovercoat，whowastogiveaspecialdisplayofintricateclubswinging，stoodnearwatchingwithinterest，hissilver-coatedclubspeepingoutofhisdeepside-pockets。Thehollowrattleofthewoodendumbbellswasheardasanotherteammadereadytogouponthestage:andinanothermomenttheexcitedprefectwashustlingtheboysthroughthevestrylikeaflockofgeese，flappingthewingsofhissoutanenervouslyandcryingtothelaggardstomakehaste。AlittletroopofNeapolitanpeasantswerepractisingtheirstepsattheendofthechapel，somecirclingtheirarmsabovetheirheads，someswayingtheirbasketsofpapervioletsandcurtsying。Inadarkcornerofthechapelatthegospelsideofthealtarastoutoldladykneltamidhercopiousblackskirts。Whenshestoodupapink-dressedfigure，wearingacurlygoldenwigandanold-fashionedstrawsunbonnet，withblackpencilledeyebrowsandcheeksdelicatelyrougedandpowdered，wasdiscovered。Alowmurmurofcuriosityranroundthechapelatthediscoveryofthisgirlishfigure。Oneoftheprefects，smilingandnoddinghishead，approachedthedarkcornerand，havingbowedtothestoutoldlady，saidpleasantly:——
Isthisabeautifulyoungladyoradollthatyouhavehere，MrsTallon？
Then，bendingdowntopeeratthesmilingpaintedfaceundertheleafofthebonnet，heexclaimed:——
No!UponmywordIbelieveit\'slittleBertieTallonafterall!
Stephenathispostbythewindowheardtheoldladyandthepriestlaughtogetherandheardtheboys\'murmursofadmirationbehindhimastheypassedforwardtoseethelittleboywhohadtodancethesunbonnetdancebyhimself。Amovementofimpatienceescapedhim。Helettheedgeoftheblindfalland，steppingdownfromthebenchonwhichhehadbeenstanding，walkedoutofthechapel。
Hepassedoutoftheschoolhouseandhaltedundertheshedthatflankedthegarden。Fromthetheatreoppositecamethemufflednoiseoftheaudienceandsuddenbrazenclashesofthesoldiers\'band。Thelightspreadupwardsfromtheglassroofmakingthetheatreseemafestiveark，anchoredamongthehulksofhouses，herfrailcablesoflanternsloopinghertohermoorings。
Asidedoorofthetheatreopenedsuddenlyandashaftoflightflewacrossthegrassplots。Asuddenburstofmusicissuedfromtheark，thepreludeofawaltz:andwhenthesidedoorclosedagainthelistenercouldhearthefaintrhythmofthemusic。Thesentimentoftheopeningbars，theirlanguorandsupplemovement，evokedtheincommunicableemotionwhichhadbeenthecauseofallhisday\'sunrestandofhisimpatientmovementofamomentbefore。Hisunrestissuedfromhimlikeawaveofsound:andonthetideofflowingmusicthearkwasjourneying，trailinghercablesoflanternsinherwake。Thenanoiselikedwarfartillerybrokethemovement。
Itwastheclappingthatgreetedtheentryofthedumbbellteamonthestage。
Atthefarendoftheshednearthestreetaspeckofpinklightshowedinthedarknessandashewalkedtowardsithebecameawareofafaintaromaticodour。Twoboyswerestandingintheshelterofadoorway，smoking，andbeforehereachedthemhehadrecognisedHeronbyhisvoice——
HerecomesthenobleDedalus!criedahighthroatyvoice。Welcometoourtrustyfriend!
ThiswelcomeendedinasoftpealofmirthlesslaughterasHeronsalaamedandthenbegantopokethegroundwithhiscane——
HereIam，saidStephen，haltingandglancingfromHerontohisfriend。
Thelatterwasastrangertohimbutinthedarkness，bytheaidoftheglowingcigarettetips，hecouldmakeoutapaledandyishfaceoverwhichasmilewastravellingslowly，atallovercoatedfigureandahardhat。Herondidnottroublehimselfaboutanintroductionbutsaidinstead:——
IwasjusttellingmyfriendWalliswhatalarkitwouldbetonightifyoutookofftherectorinthepartoftheschoolmaster。Itwouldbearippinggoodjoke。
HeronmadeapoorattempttoimitateforhisfriendWallistherector\'spedanticbassandthen，laughingathisfailure，askedStephentodoit——
Goon，Dedalus，heurged，youcantakehimoffrippingly。Hethatwillnothearthechurchalethimbetotheeaastheheathenaandthepublicana。
TheimitationwaspreventedbyamildexpressionofangerfromWallisinwhosemouthpiecethecigarettehadbecometootightlywedged——
Damnthisblanketyblankholder，hesaid，takingitfromhismouthandsmilingandfrowninguponittolerantly。It\'salwaysgettingstucklikethat。Doyouuseaholder？——
Idon\'tsmoke，answeredStephen——
No，saidHeron，Dedalusisamodelyouth。Hedoesn\'tsmokeandhedoesn\'tgotobazaarsandhedoesn\'tflirtandhedoesn\'tdamnanythingordamnall。
Stephenshookhisheadandsmiledinhisrival\'sflushedandmobileface，beakedlikeabird\'s。HehadoftenthoughtitstrangethatVincentHeronhadabird\'sfaceaswellasabird\'sname。Ashockofpalehairlayontheforeheadlikearuffledcrest:theforeheadwasnarrowandbonyandathinhookednosestoodoutbetweentheclose-setprominenteyeswhichwerelightandinexpressive。Therivalswereschoolfriends。Theysattogetherinclass，knelttogetherinthechapel，talkedtogetherafterbeadsovertheirlunches。Asthefellowsinnumberonewereundistinguisheddullards，StephenandHeronhadbeenduringtheyearthevirtualheadsoftheschool。
Itwastheywhowentuptotherectortogethertoaskforafreedayortogetafellowoff——
Obytheway，saidHeronsuddenly，Isawyourgovernorgoingin。
ThesmilewanedonStephen\'sface。Anyallusionmadetohisfatherbyafelloworbyamasterputhiscalmtoroutinamoment。HewaitedintimoroussilencetohearwhatHeronmightsaynext。Heron，however，nudgedhimexpressivelywithhiselbowandsaid:——
You\'reaslydog——
Whyso？saidStephen——
You\'dthinkbutterwouldn\'tmeltinyourmouthsaidHeron。ButI\'mafraidyou\'reaslydog——
MightIaskyouwhatyouaretalkingabout？saidStephenurbanely——
Indeedyoumight，answeredHeron。Wesawher，Wallis，didn\'twe？
Anddeucedlyprettysheistoo。Andinquisitive!AndwhatpartdoesStephentake，MrDedalus？AndwillStephennotsing，MrDedalus？YourgovernorwasstaringatherthroughthateyeglassofhisforallhewasworthsothatIthinktheoldmanhasfoundyououttoo。Iwouldn\'tcareabit，byJove。She\'sripping，isn\'tshe，Wallis？——
Nothalfbad，answeredWallisquietlyasheplacedhisholderoncemoreinacornerofhismouth。
AshaftofmomentaryangerflewthroughStephen\'smindattheseindelicateallusionsinthehearingofastranger。Forhimtherewasnothingamusinginagirl\'sinterestandregard。Alldayhehadthoughtofnothingbuttheirleave-takingonthestepsofthetramatHarold\'sCross，thestreamofmoodyemotionsithadmadetocoursethroughhimandthepoemhehadwrittenaboutit。Alldayhehadimaginedanewmeetingwithherforheknewthatshewastocometotheplay。Theoldrestlessmoodinesshadagainfilledhisbreastasithaddoneonthenightoftheparty，buthadnotfoundanoutletinverse。Thegrowthandknowledgeoftwoyearsofboyhoodstoodbetweenthenandnow，forbiddingsuchanoutlet:andalldaythestreamofgloomytendernesswithinhimhadstartedforthandreturneduponitselfindarkcoursesandeddies，wearyinghimintheenduntilthepleasantryoftheprefectandthepaintedlittleboyhaddrawnfromhimamovementofimpatience——
Soyoumayaswelladmit，Heronwenton，thatwe\'vefairlyfoundyououtthistime。Youcan\'tplaythesaintonmeanymore，that\'sonesurefive。
Asoftpealofmirthlesslaughterescapedfromhislipsand，bendingdownasbefore，hestruckStephenlightlyacrossthecalfofthelegwithhiscane，asifinjestingreproof。
Stephen\'smomentofangerhadalreadypassed。Hewasneitherflatterednorconfused，butsimplywishedthebantertoend。Hescarcelyresentedwhathadseemedtohimasillyindelicatenessforheknewthattheadventureinhismindstoodinnodangerfromthesewords:andhisfacemirroredhisrival\'sfalsesmile——
Admit!repeatedHeron，strikinghimagainwithhiscaneacrossthecalfoftheleg。
Thestrokewasplayfulbutnotsolightlygivenasthefirstonehadbeen。Stephenfelttheskintingleandglowslightlyandalmostpainlessly；
and，bowingsubmissively，asiftomeethiscompanion\'sjestingmood，begantorecitetheConfiteor。Theepisodeendedwell，forbothHeronandWallislaughedindulgentlyattheirreverence。
TheconfessioncameonlyfromStephen\'slipsand，whiletheyspokethewords，asuddenmemoryhadcarriedhimtoanotherscenecalledup，asifbymagic，atthemomentwhenhehadnotedthefaintcrueldimplesatthecornersofHeron\'ssmilinglipsandhadfeltthefamiliarstrokeofthecaneagainsthiscalfandhadheardthefamiliarwordofadmonition:——
Admit。
Itwastowardsthecloseofhisfirstterminthecollegewhenhewasinnumbersix。Hissensitivenaturewasstillsmartingunderthelashesofanundivinedandsqualidwayoflife。HissoulwasstilldisquietedandcastdownbythedullphenomenonofDublin。Hehademergedfromatwoyears\'spellofreverytofindhimselfinthemidstofanewscene，everyeventandfigureofwhichaffectedhimintimately，disheartenedhimoralluredand，whetheralluringordisheartening，filledhimalwayswithunrestandbitterthoughts。Alltheleisurewhichhisschoollifelefthimwaspassedinthecompanyofsubversivewriterswhosejibesandviolenceofspeechsetupafermentinhisbrainbeforetheypassedoutofitintohiscrudewritings。
TheessaywasforhimthechieflabourofhisweekandeveryTuesday，ashemarchedfromhometotheschool，hereadhisfateintheincidentsoftheway，pittinghimselfagainstsomefigureaheadofhimandquickeninghispacetooutstripitbeforeacertaingoalwasreachedorplantinghisstepsscrupulouslyinthespacesofthepatchworkofthepathwayandtellinghimselfthathewouldbefirstandnotfirstintheweeklyessay。
OnacertainTuesdaythecourseofhistriumphswasrudelybroken。MrTate，theEnglishmaster，pointedhisfingerathimandsaidbluntly:——
Thisfellowhasheresyinhisessay。
Ahushfellontheclass。MrTatedidnotbreakitbutdugwithhishandbetweenhisthighswhilehisheavilystarchedlinencreakedabouthisneckandwrists。Stephendidnotlookup。Itwasarawspringmorningandhiseyeswerestillsmartingandweak。Hewasconsciousoffailureandofdetection，ofthesqualorofhisownmindandhome，andfeltagainsthisnecktherawedgeofhisturnedandjaggedcollar。
AshortloudlaughfromMrTatesettheclassmoreatease——
Perhapsyoudidn\'tknowthat，hesaid——
Where？askedStephen。
MrTatewithdrewhisdelvinghandandspreadouttheessay——
Here。It\'sabouttheCreatorandthesoul。RrmrrmrrmAh!withoutapossibilityofeverapproachingnearer。That\'sheresy。
Stephenmurmured:——
Imeantwithoutapossibilityofeverreaching。
ItwasasubmissionandMrTate，appeased，foldeduptheessayandpasseditacrosstohim，saying:——
OAh!everreaching。That\'sanotherstory。
Buttheclasswasnotsosoonappeased。Thoughnobodyspoketohimoftheaffairafterclasshecouldfeelabouthimavaguegeneralmalignantjoy。
AfewnightsafterthispublicchidinghewaswalkingwithaletteralongtheDrumcondraRoadwhenheheardavoicecry:——
Halt!
Heturnedandsawthreeboysofhisownclasscomingtowardshiminthedusk。ItwasHeronwhohadcalledoutand，ashemarchedforwardbetweenhistwoattendants，heclefttheairbeforehimwithathincaneintimetotheirsteps。Boland，hisfriend，marchedbesidehim，alargegrinonhisface，whileNashcameonafewstepsbehind，blowingfromthepaceandwagginghisgreatredhead。
AssoonastheboyshadturnedintoClonliffeRoadtogethertheybegantospeakaboutbooksandwriters，sayingwhatbookstheywerereadingandhowmanybookstherewereintheirfathers\'bookcasesathome。StephenlistenedtotheminsomewondermentforBolandwasthedunceandNashtheidleroftheclass。Infact，aftersometalkabouttheirfavouritewriters，NashdeclaredforCaptainMarryatwho，hesaid，wasthegreatestwriter——
Fudge!saidHeron。AskDedalus。Whoisthegreatestwriter，Dedalus？
Stephennotedthemockeryinthequestionandsaid:——
Ofprosedoyoumean？——
Yes——
Newman，Ithink——
IsitCardinalNewman？askedBoland——
Yes，answeredStephen。
ThegrinbroadenedonNash\'sfreckledfaceasheturnedtoStephenandsaid:——
AnddoyoulikeCardinalNewman，Dedalus？——
O，manysaythatNewmanhasthebestprosestyle，Heronsaidtotheothertwoinexplanation，ofcoursehe\'snotapoet——
Andwhoisthebestpoet，Heron？askedBoland——
LordTennyson，ofcourse，answeredHeron——
O，yes，LordTennyson，saidNash。Wehaveallhispoetryathomeinabook。
AtthisStephenforgotthesilentvowshehadbeenmakingandburstout:——
Tennysonapoet!Why，he\'sonlyarhymester!——
O，getout!saidHeron。EveryoneknowsthatTennysonisthegreatestpoet——
Andwhodoyouthinkisthegreatestpoet？askedBoland，nudginghisneighbour——
Byron，ofcourse，answeredStephen。
Herongavetheleadandallthreejoinedinascornfullaugh——
Whatareyoulaughingat？askedStephen——
You，saidHeron。Byronthegreatestpoet!He\'sonlyapoetforuneducatedpeople——
Hemustbeafinepoet!saidBoland——
Youmaykeepyourmouthshut，saidStephen，turningonhimboldly。
Allyouknowaboutpoetryiswhatyouwroteupontheslatesintheyardandweregoingtobesenttotheloftfor。
Boland，infact，wassaidtohavewrittenontheslatesintheyardacoupletaboutaclassmateofhiswhooftenrodehomefromthecollegeonapony:AsTysonwasridingintoJerusalemHefellandhurthisAlecKafoozelum。ThisthrustputthetwolieutenantstosilencebutHeronwenton:——
InanycaseByronwasahereticandimmoraltoo——
Idon\'tcarewhathewas，criedStephenhotly——
Youdon\'tcarewhetherhewasahereticornot？saidNash——
Whatdoyouknowaboutit？shoutedStephen。Youneverreadalineofanythinginyourlifeexceptatrans，orBolandeither——
IknowthatByronwasabadman，saidBoland——
Here，catchholdofthisheretic，Heroncalledout。InamomentStephenwasaprisoner——
Tatemadeyoubuckuptheotherday，Heronwenton，abouttheheresyinyouressay——
I\'lltellhimtomorrow，saidBoland——
Willyou？saidStephen。You\'dbeafraidtoopenyourlips——
Afraid？——
Ay。Afraidofyourlife——
Behaveyourself!criedHeron，cuttingatStephen\'slegswithhiscane。
Itwasthesignalfortheironset。NashpinionedhisarmsbehindwhileBolandseizedalongcabbagestumpwhichwaslyinginthegutter。StrugglingandkickingunderthecutsofthecaneandtheblowsoftheknottystumpStephenwasbornebackagainstabarbedwirefence——
AdmitthatByronwasnogood——
No——
Admit——
No——
Admit——
No。No。
Atlastafterafuryofplungeshewrenchedhimselffree。HistormentorssetofftowardsJones\'sRoad，laughingandjeeringathim，whilehe，halfblindedwithtears，stumbledon，clenchinghisfistsmadlyandsobbing。
WhilehewasstillrepeatingtheConfiteoramidtheindulgentlaughterofhishearersandwhilethescenesofthatmalignantepisodewerestillpassingsharplyandswiftlybeforehismindhewonderedwhyheborenomalicenowtothosewhohadtormentedhim。Hehadnotforgottenawhitoftheircowardiceandcrueltybutthememoryofitcalledforthnoangerfromhim。Allthedescriptionsoffierceloveandhatredwhichhehadmetinbookshadseemedtohimthereforeunreal。EventhatnightashestumbledhomewardsalongJones\'sRoadhehadfeltthatsomepowerwasdivestinghimofthatsudden-wovenangeraseasilyasafruitisdivestedofitssoftripepeel。
Heremainedstandingwithhistwocompanionsattheendoftheshedlisteningidlytotheirtalkortotheburstsofapplauseinthetheatre。
Shewassittingthereamongtheothersperhapswaitingforhimtoappear。
Hetriedtorecallherappearancebutcouldnot。Hecouldrememberonlythatshehadwornashawlaboutherheadlikeacowlandthatherdarkeyeshadinvitedandunnervedhim。Hewonderedhadhebeeninherthoughtsasshehadbeeninhis。Theninthedarkandunseenbytheothertwoherestedthetipsofthefingersofonehanduponthepalmoftheotherhand，scarcelytouchingitlightly。Butthepressureofherfingershadbeenlighterandsteadier:andsuddenlythememoryoftheirtouchtraversedhisbrainandbodylikeaninvisiblewave。
Aboycametowardsthem，runningalongundertheshed。Hewasexcitedandbreathless——
O，Dedalus，hecried，Doyleisinagreatbakeaboutyou。You\'retogoinatonceandgetdressedfortheplay。Hurryup，youbetter——
He\'scomingnow，saidHerontothemessengerwithahaughtydrawl，whenhewantsto。
TheboyturnedtoHeronandrepeated:——
ButDoyleisinanawfulbake——
WillyoutellDoylewithmybestcomplimentsthatIdamnedhiseyes？
answeredHeron——
Well，Imustgonow，saidStephen，whocaredlittleforsuchpointsofhonour——
Iwouldn\'t，saidHeron，damnmeifIwould。That\'snowaytosendforoneoftheseniorboys。Inabake，indeed!Ithinkit\'squiteenoughthatyou\'retakingapartinhisballyoldplay。
ThisspiritofquarrelsomecomradeshipwhichhehadobservedlatelyinhisrivalhadnotseducedStephenfromhishabitsofquietobedience。
Hemistrustedtheturbulenceanddoubtedthesincerityofsuchcomradeshipwhichseemedtohimasorryanticipationofmanhood。Thequestionofhonourhereraisedwas，likeallsuchquestions，trivialtohim。Whilehismindhadbeenpursuingitsintangiblephantomsandturninginirresolutionfromsuchpursuithehadheardabouthimtheconstantvoicesofhisfatherandofhismasters，urginghimtobeagentlemanaboveallthingsandurginghimtobeagoodcatholicaboveallthings。Thesevoiceshadnowcometobehollow-soundinginhisears。Whenthegymnasiumhadbeenopenedhehadheardanothervoiceurginghimtobestrongandmanlyandhealthyandwhenthemovementtowardsnationalrevivalhadbeguntobefeltinthecollegeyetanothervoicehadbiddenhimbetruetohiscountryandhelptoraiseupherlanguageandtradition。Intheprofaneworld，asheforesaw，aworldlyvoicewouldbidhimraiseuphisfather\'sfallenstatebyhislaboursand，meanwhile，thevoiceofhisschoolcomradesurgedhimtobeadecentfellow，toshieldothersfromblameortobegthemoffandtodohisbesttogetfreedaysfortheschool。Anditwasthedinofallthesehollow-soundingvoicesthatmadehimhaltirresolutelyinthepursuitofphantoms。Hegavethemearonlyforatimebuthewashappyonlywhenhewasfarfromthem，beyondtheircall，aloneorinthecompanyofphantasmalcomrades。
Inthevestryaplumpfresh-facedjesuitandanelderlyman，inshabbyblueclothes，weredabblinginacaseofpaintsandchalks。Theboyswhohadbeenpaintedwalkedaboutorstoodstillawkwardly，touchingtheirfacesinagingerlyfashionwiththeirfurtivefingertips。Inthemiddleofthevestryayoungjesuit，whowasthenonavisittothecollege，stoodrockinghimselfrhythmicallyfromthetipsofhistoestohisheelsandbackagain，hishandsthrustwellforwardintohisside-pockets。Hissmallheadsetoffwithglossyredcurlsandhisnewlyshavenfaceagreedwellwiththespotlessdecencyofhissoutaneandwithhisspotlessshoes。
Ashewatchedthisswayingformandtriedtoreadforhimselfthelegendofthepriest\'smockingsmiletherecameintoStephen\'smemoryasayingwhichhehadheardfromhisfatherbeforehehadbeensenttoClongowes，thatyoucouldalwaystellajesuitbythestyleofhisclothes。Atthesamemomenthethoughthesawalikenessbetweenhisfather\'smindandthatofthissmilingwell-dressedpriest:andhewasawareofsomedesecrationofthepriest\'sofficeorofthevestryitselfwhosesilencewasnowroutedbyloudtalkandjokinganditsairpungentwiththesmellsofthegas-jetsandthegrease。
Whilehisforeheadwasbeingwrinkledandhisjawspaintedblackandbluebytheelderlyman，helisteneddistractedlytothevoiceoftheplumpyoungjesuitwhichbadehimspeakupandmakehispointsclearly。HecouldhearthebandplayingTheLilyofKillarneyandknewthatinafewmomentsthecurtainwouldgoup。Hefeltnostagefrightbutthethoughtoftheparthehadtoplayhumiliatedhim。Aremembranceofsomeofhislinesmadeasuddenflushrisetohispaintedcheeks。Hesawherseriousalluringeyeswatchinghimfromamongtheaudienceandtheirimageatoncesweptawayhisscruples，leavinghiswillcompact。Anothernatureseemedtohavebeenlenthim:theinfectionoftheexcitementandyouthabouthimenteredintoandtransformedhismoodymistrustfulness。Foroneraremomentheseemedtobeclothedintherealapparelofboyhood:and，ashestoodinthewingsamongtheotherplayers，hesharedthecommonmirthamidwhichthedropscenewashauledupwardsbytwoable-bodiedpriestswithviolentjerksandallawry。
Afewmomentsafterhefoundhimselfonthestageamidthegarishgasandthedimscenery，actingbeforetheinnumerablefacesofthevoid。Itsurprisedhimtoseethattheplaywhichhehadknownatrehearsalsforadisjointedlifelessthinghadsuddenlyassumedalifeofitsown。Itseemednowtoplayitself，heandhisfellowactorsaidingitwiththeirparts。Whenthecurtainfellonthelastsceneheheardthevoidfilledwithapplauseand，throughariftinasidescene，sawthesimplebodybeforewhichhehadactedmagicallydeformed，thevoidoffacesbreakingatallpointsandfallingasunderintobusygroups。
Heleftthestagequicklyandridhimselfofhismummeryandpassedoutthroughthechapelintothecollegegarden。Nowthattheplaywasoverhisnervescriedforsomefurtheradventure。Hehurriedonwardsasiftoovertakeit。Thedoorsofthetheatrewereallopenandtheaudiencehademptiedout。Onthelineswhichhehadfanciedthemooringsofanarkafewlanternsswunginthenightbreeze，flickeringcheerlessly。Hemountedthestepsfromthegardeninhaste，eagerthatsomepreyshouldnoteludehim，andforcedhiswaythroughthecrowdinthehallandpastthetwojesuitswhostoodwatchingtheexodusandbowingandshakinghandswiththevisitors。Hepushedonwardnervously，feigningastillgreaterhasteandfaintlyconsciousofthesmilesandstaresandnudgeswhichhispowderedheadleftinitswake。
Whenhecameoutonthestepshesawhisfamilywaitingfor\'himatthefirstlamp。Inaglancehenotedthateveryfigureofthegroupwasfamiliarandrandownthestepsangrily——
IhavetoleaveamessagedowninGeorge\'sStreet，hesaidtohisfatherquickly。I\'llbehomeafteryou。
Withoutwaitingforhisfather\'squestionsheranacrosstheroadandbegantowalkatbreakneckspeeddownthehill。Hehardlyknewwherehewaswalking。Prideandhopeanddesirelikecrushedherbsinhisheartsentupvapoursof，maddeningincensebeforetheeyesofhismind。Hestrodedownthehillamidthetumultofsudden-risenvapoursofwoundedprideandfallenhopeandbaffleddesire。Theystreamedupwardsbeforehisanguishedeyesindenseandmaddeningfumesandpassedawayabovehimtillatlasttheairwasclearandcoldagain。
Afilmstillveiledhiseyesbuttheyburnednolonger。Apower，akintothatwhichhadoftenmadeangerorresentmentfallfromhim，broughthisstepstorest。Hestoodstillandgazedupatthesombreporchofthemorgueandfromthattothedarkcobbledlanewayatitsside。HesawthewordLottsonthewallofthelaneandbreathedslowlytherankheavyair。
Thatishorsepissandrottedstraw，hethought。Itisagoododourtobreathe。Itwillcalmmyheart。Myheartisquitecalmnow。Iwillgoback。
StephenwasonceagainseatedbesidehisfatherinthecornerofarailwaycarriageatKingsbridge。HewastravellingwithhisfatherbythenightmailtoCork。AsthetrainsteamedoutofthestationherecalledhischildishwonderofyearsbeforeandeveryeventofhisfirstdayatClongowes。Buthefeltnowondernow。Hesawthedarkeninglandsslippingawaypasthim，thesilenttelegraph-polespassinghiswindowswiftlyeveryfourseconds，thelittleglimmeringstations，mannedbyafewsilentsentries，flungbythemailbehindherandtwinklingforamomentinthedarknesslikefierygrainsflungbackwardsbyarunner。
Helistenedwithoutsympathytohisfather\'sevocationofCorkandofscenesofhisyouth，atalebrokenbysighsordraughtsfromhispocketflaskwhenevertheimageofsomedeadfriendappearedinitorwhenevertheevokerrememberedsuddenlythepurposeofhisactualvisit。Stephenheardbutcouldfeelnopity。TheimagesofthedeadwereallstrangerstohimsavethatofuncleCharles，animagewhichhadlatelybeenfadingoutofmemory。Heknew，however，thathisfather\'spropertywasgoingtobesoldbyauction，andinthemannerofhisowndispossessionhefelttheworldgivethelierudelytohisphantasy。
AtMaryboroughhefellasleep。WhenheawokethetrainhadpassedoutofMallowandhisfatherwasstretchedasleepontheotherseat。Thecoldlightofthedawnlayoverthecountry，overtheunpeopledfieldsandtheclosedcottages。Theterrorofsleepfascinatedhismindashewatchedthesilentcountryorheardfromtimetotimehisfather\'sdeepbreathorsuddensleepymovement。Theneighbourhoodofunseensleepersfilledhimwithstrangedread，asthoughtheycouldharmhim，andheprayedthatthedaymightcomequickly。Hisprayer，addressedneithertoGodnorsaint，beganwithashiver，asthechillymorningbreezecreptthroughthechinkofthecarriagedoortohisfeet，andendedinatrailoffoolishwordswhichhemadetofittheinsistentrhythmofthetrain；andsilently，atintervalsoffourseconds，thetelegraph-polesheldthegallopingnotesofthemusicbetweenpunctualbars。Thisfuriousmusicallayedhisdreadand，leaningagainstthewindowledge，helethiseyelidscloseagain。
TheydroveinajingleacrossCorkwhileitwasstillearlymorningandStephenfinishedhissleepinabedroomoftheVictoriaHotel。Thebrightwarmsunlightwasstreamingthroughthewindowandhecouldhearthedinoftraffic。Hisfatherwasstandingbeforethedressing-table，examininghishairandfaceandmoustachewithgreatcare，craninghisneckacrossthewater-juganddrawingitbacksidewaystoseethebetter。
Whilehedidsohesangsoftlytohimselfwithquaintaccentandphrasing:`\'TisyouthandfollyMakesyoungmenmarry，Sohere，mylove，I\'llNolongerstay。
Whatcan\'tbecured，sure，Mustbeinjured，sure，SoI\'llgotoAmerikay。
`Myloveshe\'shandsome，Myloveshe\'sbony:
She\'slikegoodwhiskyWhenitisnew；
Butwhen\'tisoldAndgrowingcoldItfadesanddieslikeThemountaindew。\'Theconsciousnessofthewarmsunnycityoutsidehiswindowandthetendertremorswithwhichhisfather\'svoicefestoonedthestrangesadhappyair，droveoffallthemistsofthenight\'sillhumourfromStephen\'sbrain。
Hegotupquicklytodressand，whenthesonghadended，said:——
That\'smuchprettierthananyofyourothercome-all-yous——
Doyouthinkso？askedMrDedalus——
Ilikeit，saidStephen——
It\'saprettyoldair，saidMrDedalus，twirlingthepointsofhismoustache。Ah，butyoushouldhaveheardMickLacysingit!PoorMickLacy!
Hehadlittleturnsforit，gracenotesthatheusedtoputinthatIhaven\'tgot。Thatwastheboywhocouldsingacome-all-you，ifyoulike。
