SidebysidewithhismemoryofthedeedsofprowessofhisuncleMatDavin，theathlete，theyoungpeasantworshippedthesorrowfullegendofIreland。Thegossipofhisfellow-studentswhichstrovetorendertheflatlifeofthecollegesignificantatanycostlovedtothinkofhimasayoungfenian。HisnursehadtaughthimIrishandshapedhisrudeimaginationbythebrokenlightsofIrishmyth。HestoodtowardsthemythuponwhichnoindividualmindhadeverdrawnoutalineofbeautyandtoitsunwieldytalesthatdividedagainstthemselvesastheymoveddownthecyclesinthesameattitudeastowardstheRomancatholicreligion，theattitudeofadull-wittedloyalserf。WhatsoeverofthoughtoroffeelingcametohimfromEnglandorbywayofEnglishculturehismindstoodarmedagainstinobediencetoapassword；andoftheworldthatlaybeyondEnglandheknewonlytheforeignlegionofFranceinwhichhespokeofserving。
Couplingthisambitionwiththeyoungman\'shumourStephenhadoftencalledhimoneofthetamegeeseandtherewasevenapointofirritationinthenamepointedagainstthatveryreluctanceofspeechanddeedinhisfriendwhichseemedsooftentostandbetweenStephen\'smind，eagerofspeculation，andthehiddenwaysofIrishlife。
Onenighttheyoungpeasant，hisspiritstungbytheviolentorluxuriouslanguageinwhichStephenescapedfromthecoldsilenceofintellectualrevolt，hadcalledupbeforeStephen\'smindastrangevision。ThetwowerewalkingslowlytowardsDavin\'sroomsthroughthedarknarrowstreetsofthepoorerjews——
Athinghappenedtomyself，Stevie，lastautumn，comingonwinter，andInevertoldittoalivingsoulandyouarethefirstpersonnowI
evertolditto。IdisrememberifitwasOctoberorNovember。ItwasOctoberbecauseitwasbeforeIcameupheretojointhematriculationclass。
Stephenhadturnedhissmilingeyestowardshisfriend\'sface，flatteredbyhisconfidenceandwonovertosympathybythespeaker\'ssimpleaccent——
IwasawayallthatdayfrommyownplaceoverinButtevant——
Idon\'tknowifyouknowwherethatis-atahurlingmatchbetweentheCroke\'sOwnBoysandtheFearlessThurlesandbyGod，Stevie，thatwasthehardfight。Myfirstcousin，FonsyDavin，wasstrippedtohisbuffthatdaymindingcoolfortheLimericksbuthewasupwiththeforwardshalfthetimeandshoutinglikemad。Ineverwillforgetthatday。OneoftheCrokesmadeawoefulwipeathimonetimewithhiscamanandIdeclaretoGodhewaswithinanaim\'saceofgettingitatthesideofhistemple。
Oh，honesttoGod，ifthecrookofitcaughthimthattimehewasdonefor——
Iamgladheescaped，Stephenhadsaidwithalaugh，butsurelythat\'snotthestrangethingthathappenedyou？-Well，Isupposethatdoesn\'tinterestyou，butleastwaystherewassuchnoiseafterthematchthatI
missedthetrainhomeandIcouldn\'tgetanykindofayoketogivemealiftfor，asluckwouldhaveit，therewasamassmeetingthatsamedayoverinCastletownrocheandallthecarsinthecountrywerethere。Sotherewasnothingforitonlytostaythenightortofootitout。Well，IstartedtowalkandonIwentanditwascomingonnightwhenIgotintotheBallyhourahills，that\'sbetterthantenmilesfromKilmallockandthere\'salonglonelyroadafterthat。Youwouldn\'tseethesignofachristianhousealongtheroadorhearasound。Itwaspitchdarkalmost。OnceortwiceIstoppedbythewayunderabushtoreddenmypipeandonlyforthedewwasthickI\'dhavestretchedoutthereandslept。Atlast，afterabendoftheroad，Ispiedalittlecottagewithalightinthewindow。
Iwentupandknockedatthedoor。AvoiceaskedwhowasthereandIansweredIwasoveratthematchinButtevantandwaswalkingbackandthatI\'dbethankfulforaglassofwater。Afterawhileayoungwomanopenedthedoorandbroughtmeoutabigmugofmilk。ShewashalfundressedasifshewasgoingtobedwhenIknockedandshehadherhairhangingandI
thoughtbyherfigureandbysomethinginthelookofhereyesthatshemustbecarryingachild。Shekeptmeintalkalongwhileatthedoor，andIthoughtitstrangebecauseherbreastandhershoulderswerebare。
SheaskedmewasItiredandwouldIliketostopthenightthere。ShesaidshewasallaloneinthehouseandthatherhusbandhadgonethatmorningtoQueenstownwithhissistertoseeheroff。Andallthetimeshewastalking，Stevie，shehadhereyesfixedonmyfaceandshestoodsoclosetomeIcouldhearherbreathing。WhenIhandedherbackthemugatlastshetookmyhandtodrawmeinoverthethresholdandsaid:`Comeinandstaythenighthere。You\'venocalltobefrightened。There\'snooneinitbutourselves。\'Ididn\'tgoin，Stevie。Ithankedherandwentonmywayagain，allinafever。AtthefirstbendoftheroadIlookedbackandshewasstandingatthedoor。
ThelastwordsofDavin\'sstorysanginhismemoryandthefigureofthewomaninthestorystoodforthreflectedinotherfiguresofthepeasantwomenwhomhehadseenstandinginthedoorwaysatClaneasthecollegecarsdroveby，asatypeofherraceandofhisown，abat-likesoulwakingtotheconsciousnessofitselfindarknessandsecrecyandlonelinessand，throughtheeyesandvoiceandgestureofawomanwithoutguile，callingthestrangertoherbed。
Ahandwaslaidonhisarmandayoungvoicecried:——
Ah，gentleman，yourowngirl，sir!Thefirsthandseltoday，gentleman。
Buythatlovelybunch。Willyou，gentleman？
Theblueflowerswhichsheliftedtowardshimandheryoungblueeyesseemedtohimatthatinstantimagesofguilelessness，andhehaltedtilltheimagehadvanishedandhesawonlyherraggeddressanddampcoarsehairandhoydenishface——
Do，gentleman!Don\'tforgetyourowngirl，sir!——
Ihavenomoney，saidStephen——
Buythemlovelyones，willyou，sir？Onlyapenny——
DidyouhearwhatIsaid？askedStephen，bendingtowardsher。
ItoldyouIhadnomoney。Itellyouagainnow——
Well，sure，youwillsomeday，sir，pleaseGod，thegirlansweredafteraninstant——
Possibly，saidStephen，butIdon\'tthinkitlikely——
Heleftherquickly，fearingthatherintimacymightturntojibingandwishingtobeoutofthewaybeforesheofferedherwaretoanother，atouristfromEnglandorastudentofTrinity。GraftonStreet，alongwhichhewalked，prolongedthatmomentofdiscouragedpoverty。IntheroadwayattheheadofthestreetaslabwassettothememoryofWolfeToneandherememberedhavingbeenpresentwithhisfatheratitslaying。Herememberedwithbitternessthatsceneoftawdrytribute。TherewerefourFrenchdelegatesinabrakeandone，aplumpsmilingyoungman，held，wedgedonastick，acardonwhichwereprintedthewords:Vivel\'Irlande!
ButthetreesinStephen\'sGreenwerefragrantofrainandtherain-soddenearthgaveforthitsmortalodour，afaintincenserisingupwardthroughthemouldfrommanyhearts。ThesoulofthegallantvenalcitywhichhiseldershadtoldhimofhadshrunkwithtimetoafaintmortalodourrisingfromtheearthandheknewthatinamomentwhenheenteredthesombrecollegehewouldbeconsciousofacorruptionotherthanthatofBuckEganandBurnchapelWhaley。
ItwastoolatetogoupstairstotheFrenchclass。Hecrossedthehallandtookthecorridortotheleftwhichledtothephysicstheatre。Thecorridorwasdarkandsilentbutnotunwatchful。Whydidhefeelthatitwasnotunwatchful？WasitbecausehehadheardthatinBuckWhaley\'stimetherewasasecretstaircasethere？Orwasthejesuithouseextra-territorialandwashewalkingamongaliens？TheIrelandofToneandofParnellseemedtohaverecededinspace。
Heopenedthedoorofthetheatreandhaltedinthechillygreylightthatstruggledthroughthedustywindows。Afigurewascrouchingbeforethelargegrateandbyitsleannessandgreynessheknewthatitwasthedeanofstudieslightingthefire。Stephenclosedthedoorquietlyandapproachedthefireplace——
Goodmorning，sir!CanIhelpyou？
Thepriestlookedupquicklyandsaid:——
Onemomentnow，MrDedalus，andyouwillsee。Thereisanartinlightingafire。Wehavetheliberalartsandwehavetheusefularts。
Thisisoneoftheusefularts——
Iwilltrytolearnit，saidStephen——
Nottoomuchcoal，saidthedean，workingbrisklyathistask，thatisoneofthesecrets。
Heproducedfourcandle-buttsfromtheside-pocketsofhissoutaneandplacedthemdeftlyamongthecoalsandtwistedpapers。Stephenwatchedhiminsilence。Kneelingthusontheflagstonetokindlethefireandbusiedwiththedispositionofhiswispsofpaperandcandle-buttsheseemedmorethaneverahumbleservermakingreadytheplaceofsacrificeinanemptytemple，aleviteoftheLord。Likealevite\'srobeofplainlinenthefadedwornsoutanedrapedthekneelingfigureofonewhomthecanonicalsorthebell-borderedephodwouldirkandtrouble。HisverybodyhadwaxedoldinlowlyserviceoftheLord-intendingthefireuponthealtar，inbearingtidingssecretly，inwaitinguponworldlings，instrikingswiftlywhenbidden-andyethadremainedungracedbyaughtofsaintlyorofprelaticbeauty。Nay，hisverysoulhadwaxedoldinthatservicewithoutgrowingtowardslightandbeautyorspreadingabroadasweetodourofhersanctity-amortifiedwillnomoreresponsivetothethrillofitsobediencethanwastothethrillofloveorcombathisageingbody，spareandsinewy，greyedwithasilver-pointeddown。
Thedeanrestedbackonhishunkersandwatchedthestickscatch。Stephen，tofillthesilence，said:——
IamsureIcouldnotlightafire——
Youareanartist，areyounot，MrDedalus？saidthedean，glancingupandblinkinghispaleeyes。Theobjectoftheartististhecreationofthebeautiful。Whatthebeautifulisisanotherquestion。
Herubbedhishandsslowlyanddrilyoverthedifficulty——
Canyousolvethatquestionnow？heasked——
Aquinas，answeredStephen，sayspulcrasuntquaevisaplacent——
Thisfirebeforeus，saidthedean，willbepleasingtotheeye。
Willitthereforebebeautiful？——
Insofarasitisapprehendedbythesight，whichIsupposemeanshereestheticintellection，itwillbebeautiful。ButAquinasalsosaysBonumestinquodtenditappetitus。Insofarasitsatisfiestheanimalcravingforwarmthfireisagood。Inhell，however，itisanevil——
Quiteso，saidthedean，youhavecertainlyhitthenailonthehead。
Herosenimblyandwenttowardsthedoor，setitajarandsaid:——
Adraughtissaidtobeahelpinthesematters。
Ashecamebacktothehearth，limpingslightlybutwithabriskstep，Stephensawthesilentsoulofajesuitlookoutathimfromthepalelovelesseyes。LikeIgnatiushewaslamebutinhiseyesburnednosparkofIgnatius\'senthusiasm。Eventhelegendarycraftofthecompany，acraftsubtlerandmoresecretthanitsfabledbooksofsecretsubtlewisdom，hadnotfiredhissoulwiththeenergyofapostleship。Itseemedasifheusedtheshiftsandloreandcunningoftheworld，asbiddentodo，forthegreatergloryofGod，withoutjoyintheirhandlingorhatredofthatinthemwhichwasevilbutturningthem，withafirmgestureofobediencebackuponthemselvesandforallthissilentserviceitseemedasifhelovednotatallthemasterandlittle，ifatall，theendsheserved。Similiteratquesenisbaculus，hewas，asthefounderwouldhavehadhim，likeastaffinanoldman\'shand，tobeleanedonintheroadatnightfallorinstressofweather，toliewithalady\'snosegayonagardenseat，toberaisedinmenace。
Thedeanreturnedtothehearthandbegantostrokehischin——
Whenmayweexpecttohavesomethingfromyouontheestheticquestion？
heasked——
Fromme!saidStepheninastonishment。IstumbleonanideaonceafortnightifIamlucky——
Thesequestionsareveryprofound，MrDedalus，saidthedean。ItislikelookingdownfromthecliffsofMoherintothedepths。Manygodownintothedepthsandnevercomeup。Onlythetraineddivercangodownintothosedepthsandexplorethemandcometothesurfaceagain——
Ifyoumeanspeculation，sir，saidStephen，Ialsoamsurethatthereisnosuchthingasfreethinkinginasmuchasallthinkingmustbeboundbyitsownlaws——
Ha!——
FormypurposeIcanworkonatpresentbythelightofoneortwoideasofAristotleandAquinas——
Isee。Iquiteseeyourpoint——
IneedthemonlyformyownuseandguidanceuntilIhavedonesomethingformyselfbytheirlight。IfthelampsmokesorsmellsIshalltrytotrimit。IfitdoesnotgivelightenoughIshallsellitandbuyanother——
Epictetusalsohadalamp，saidthedean，whichwassoldforafancypriceafterhisdeath。Itwasthelamphewrotehisphilosophicaldissertationsby。YouknowEpictetus？——
Anoldgentleman，saidStephencoarsely，whosaidthatthesoulisverylikeabucketfulofwater——
Hetellsusinhishomelyway，thedeanwenton，thatheputanironlampbeforeastatueofoneofthegodsandthatathiefstolethelamp。
Whatdidthephilosopherdo？Hereflectedthatitwasinthecharacterofathieftostealanddeterminedtobuyanearthenlampnextdayinsteadoftheironlamp。
Asmellofmoltentallowcameupfromthedean\'scandlebuttsandfuseditselfinStephen\'sconsciousnesswiththejingleofthewords，bucketandlampandlampandbucket。Thepriest\'svoice，too，hadahardjinglingtone。Stephen\'smindhaltedbyinstinct，checkedbythestrangetoneandtheimageryandbythepriest\'sfacewhichseemedlikeanunlitlamporareflectorhunginafalsefocus。Whatlaybehinditorwithinit？Adulltorporofthesoulorthedullnessofthethundercloud，chargedwithintellectionandcapableofthegloomofGod？——
Imeantadifferentkindoflamp，sir，saidStephen——
Undoubtedly，saidthedean——
Onedifficulty，saidStephen，inestheticdiscussionistoknowwhetherwordsarebeingusedaccordingtotheliterarytraditionoraccordingtothetraditionofthemarketplace。IrememberasentenceofNewman\'sinwhichhesaysoftheBlessedVirginthatshewasdetainedinthefullcompanyofthesaints。Theuseofthewordinthemarketplaceisquitedifferent。IhopeIamnotdetainingyou——
Notintheleast，saidthedeanpolitely——
No，no，saidStephen，smiling，Imean——
Yes，yes；Isee，saidthedeanquickly，Iquitecatchthepoint:detain。
Hethrustforwardhisunderjawandutteredadryshortcough——
Toreturntothelamp，hesaid，thefeedingofitisalsoaniceproblem。Youmustchoosethepureoilandyoumustbecarefulwhenyoupouritinnottooverflowit，nottopourinmorethanthefunnelcanhold——
Whatfunnel？askedStephen——
Thefunnelthroughwhichyoupourtheoilintoyourlamp——
That？saidStephen。Isthatcalledafunnel？Isitnotatundish？——
Whatisatundish？——
That。Thefunnel——
IsthatcalledatundishinIreland？askedthedean。Ineverheardthewordinmylife——
ItiscalledatundishinLowerDrumcondra，saidStephen，laughing，wheretheyspeakthebestEnglish——
Atundish，saidthedeanreflectively。Thatisamostinterestingword。Imustlookthatwordup。UponmywordImust。
HiscourtesyofmannerrangalittlefalseandStephenlookedattheEnglishconvertwiththesameeyesastheelderbrotherintheparablemayhaveturnedontheprodigal。Ahumblefollowerinthewakeofclamorousconversions，apoorEnglishmaninIreland，heseemedtohaveenteredonthestageofjesuithistorywhenthatstrangeplayofintrigueandsufferingandenvyandstruggleandindignityhadbeenallbutgiventhrough-alate-comer，atardyspirit。Fromwhathadhesetout？Perhapshehadbeenbornandbredamongseriousdissenters，seeingsalvationinJesusonlyandabhorringthevainpompsoftheestablishment。Hadhefelttheneedofanimplicitfaithamidthewelterofsectarianismandthejargonofitsturbulentschisms，sixprinciplemen，peculiarpeople，seedandsnakebaptists，supralapsariandogmatists？Hadhefoundthetruechurchallofasuddeninwindinguptotheendlikeareelofcottonsomefine-spunlineofreasoninguponinsufflationontheimpositionofhandsortheprocessionoftheHolyGhost？OrhadLordChristtouchedhimandbiddenhimfollow，likethatdisciplewhohadsatatthereceiptofcustom，ashesatbythedoorofsomezinc-roofedchapel，yawningandtellingoverhischurchpence？
Thedeanrepeatedthewordyetagain——
Tundish!Wellnow，thatisinteresting!——
Thequestionyouaskedmeamomentagoseemstomemoreinteresting。
Whatisthatbeautywhichtheartiststrugglestoexpressfromlumpsofearth，saidStephencoldly——
Thelittlewordseemedtohaveturnedarapierpointofhissensitivenessagainstthiscourteousandvigilantfoe。HefeltwithasmartofdejectionthatthemantowhomhewasspeakingwasacountrymanofBenJonson。Hethought:——
Thelanguageinwhichwearespeakingishisbeforeitismine。Howdifferentarethewordshome，Christ，ale，master，onhislipsandonmine!Icannotspeakorwritethesewordswithoutunrestofspirit。Hislanguage，sofamiliarandsoforeign，willalwaysbeformeanacquiredspeech。Ihavenotmadeoraccepteditswords。Myvoiceholdsthematbay。Mysoulfretsintheshadowofhislanguage——
Andtodistinguishbetweenthebeautifulandthesublime，thedeanadded，todistinguishbetweenmoralbeautyandmaterialbeauty。Andtoinquirewhatkindofbeautyispropertoeachofthevariousarts。Thesearesomeinterestingpointswemighttakeup。
Stephen，disheartenedsuddenlybythedean\'sfirm，drytone，wassilent；
andthroughthesilenceadistantnoiseofmanybootsandconfusedvoicescameupthestaircase——
Inpursuingthesespeculations，saidthedeanconclusively，thereis，however，thedangerofperishingofinanition。Firstyoumusttakeyourdegree。Setthatbeforeyouasyourfirstaim。Then，littlebylittle，youwillseeyourway。Imeanineverysense，yourwayinlifeandinthinking。
Itmaybeuphillpedallingatfirst。TakeMrMoonan。Hewasalongtimebeforehegottothetop。Buthegotthere——
Imaynothavehistalent，saidStephenquietly——
Youneverknow，saidthedeanbrightly。Wenevercansaywhatisinus。Imostcertainlyshouldnotbedespondent。Perasperaadastra。
Heleftthehearthquicklyandwenttowardsthelandingtooverseethearrivalofthefirstarts\'class。
LeaningagainstthefireplaceStephenheardhimgreetbrisklyandimpartiallyeveryStudentoftheclassandcouldalmostseethefranksmilesofthecoarserstudents。Adesolatingpitybegantofalllikedewuponhiseasilyembitteredheartforthisfaithfulserving-manoftheknightlyLoyola，forthishalf-brotheroftheclergy，morevenalthantheyinspeech，moresteadfastofsoulthanthey，onewhomhewouldnevercallhisghostlyfather；
andhethoughthowthismanandhiscompanionshadearnedthenameofworldlingsatthehandsnotoftheunworldlyonlybutoftheworldlyalsoforhavingpleaded，duringalltheirhistory，atthebarofGod\'sjusticeforthesoulsofthelaxandthelukewarmandtheprudent。
TheentryoftheprofessorwassignalledbyafewroundsofKentishfirefromtheheavybootsofthosestudentswhosatonthehighesttierofthegloomytheatreunderthegreycobwebbedwindows。ThecallingoftherollbeganandtheresponsestothenamesweregivenoutinalltonesuntilthenameofPeterByrnewasreached——
Here!
Adeepbassnoteinresponsecamefromtheuppertier，followedbycoughsofprotestalongtheotherbenches。
Theprofessorpausedinhisreadingandcalledthenextname:——
Cranly!
Noanswer——
MrCranly!
AsmileflewacrossStephen\'sfaceashethoughtofhisfriend\'sstudies——
TryLeopardstown!Saidavoicefromthebenchbehind。StephenglancedupquicklybutMoynihan\'ssnoutishface，outlinedonthegreylight，wasimpassive。Aformulawasgivenout。AmidtherustlingofthenotebooksStephenturnedbackagainandsaid:——
GivemesomepaperforGod\'ssake。
Areyouasbadasthat？askedMoynihanwithabroadgrin。
Hetoreasheetfromhisscribblerandpasseditdown，whispering:——
Incaseofnecessityanylaymanorwomancandoit。
Theformulawhichhewroteobedientlyonthesheetofpaper，thecoilinganduncoilingcalculationsoftheprofessor，thespectre-likesymbolsofforceandvelocityfascinatedandjadedStephen\'smind。Hehadheardsomesaythattheoldprofessorwasanatheistfreemason。Othegreydullday!
Itseemedalimboofpainlesspatientconsciousnessthroughwhichsoulsofmathematiciansmightwander，projectinglongslenderfabricsfromplanetoplaneofeverrarerandpalertwilight，radiatingswifteddiestothelastvergesofauniverseevervaster，fartherandmoreimpalpable——
Sowemustdistinguishbetweenellipticalandellipsoidal。PerhapssomeofyougentlemenmaybefamiliarwiththeworksofMrW。S。Gilbert。
Inoneofhissongshespeaksofthebilliardsharpwhoiscondemnedtoplay:OnaclothuntrueWithatwistedcueAndellipticalbilliardballs——HemeansaballhavingtheformoftheellipsoidoftheprincipalaxesofwhichIspokeamomentago。
MoynihanleaneddowntowardsStephen\'searandmurmured:——
Whatpriceellipsoidalballs!chaseme，ladies，I\'minthecavalry!
Hisfellowstudent\'srudehumourranlikeagustthroughthecloisterofStephen\'smind，shakingintogaylifelimppriestlyvestmentsthathunguponthewalls，settingthemtoswayandcaperinasabbathofmisrule。
Theformsofthecommunityemergedfromthegust-blownvestments，thedeanofstudies，theportlyfloridbursarwithhiscapofgreyhair，thepresident，thelittlepriestwithfeatheryhairwhowrotedevoutverses，thesquatpeasantformoftheprofessorofeconomics，thetallformoftheyoungprofessorofmentalsciencediscussingonthelandingacaseofconsciencewithhisclasslikeagiraffecroppinghighleafageamongaherdofantelopes，thegravetroubledprefectofthesodality，theplumpround-headedprofessorofItalianwithhisrogue\'seyes。Theycameamblingandstumbling，tumblingandcapering，kiltingtheirgownsforleapfrog，holdingoneanotherback，shakenwithdeepfalselaughter，smackingoneanotherbehindandlaughingattheirrudemalice，callingtooneanotherbyfamiliarnicknames，protestingwithsuddendignityatsomeroughusage，whisperingtwoandtwobehindtheirhands。
Theprofessorhadgonetotheglasscasesonthesidewall，fromashelfofwhichhetookdownasetofcoils，blewawaythedustfrommanypointsand，bearingitcarefullytothetable，heldafingeronitwhileheproceededwithhislecture。HeexplainedthatthewiresinmoderncoilswereofacompoundcalledplatinoidlatelydiscoveredbyF。W。Martino。
Hespokeclearlytheinitialsandsurnameofthediscoverer。Moynihanwhisperedfrombehind:——
GoodoldFreshWaterMartin!——
Askhim，Stephenwhisperedbackwithwearyhumour，ifhewantsasubjectforelectrocution。Hecanhaveme。
Moynihan，seeingtheprofessorbendoverthecoils，roseinhisbenchand，clackingnoiselesslythefingersofhisrighthand，begantocallwiththevoiceofaslobberingurchin——
Pleaseteacher!Thisboyisaftersayingabadword，teacher——
Platinoid，theprofessorsaidsolemnly，ispreferredtoGermansilverbecauseithasalowercoefficientofresistancebychangesoftemperature。
Theplatinoidwireisinsulatedandthecoveringofsilkthatinsulatesitiswoundontheebonitebobbinsjustwheremyfingeris。Ifitwerewoundsingleanextracurrentwouldbeinducedinthecoils。ThebobbinsaresaturatedinhotparaffinwaxAsharpUlstervoicesaidfromthebenchbelowStephen:——
Arewelikelytobeaskedquestionsonappliedscience？
Theprofessorbegantojugglegravelywiththetermspurescienceandappliedscience。Aheavy-builtstudent，wearinggoldspectacles，staredwithsomewonderatthequestioner。Moynihanmurmuredfrombehindinhisnaturalvoice:——
Isn\'tMacAlisteradevilforhispoundofflesh？
StephenlookedcoldlyontheoblongSkullbeneathhimovergrownwithtangledtwine-colouredhair。Thevoice，theaccent，themindofthequestioneroffendedhimandheallowedtheoffencetocarryhimtowardswilfulunkindness，biddinghismindthinkthatthestudent\'sfatherwouldhavedonebetterhadhesenthissontoBelfasttostudyandhavesavedsomethingonthetrainfarebysodoing。
Theoblongskullbeneathdidnotturntomeetthisshaftofthoughtandyettheshaftcamebacktoitsbowstring；forhesawinamomentthestudent\'swhey-paleface——
Thatthoughtisnotmine，hesaidtohimselfquickly。ItcamefromthecomicIrishmaninthebenchbehind。Patience。CanyouSaywithcertitudebywhomthesoulofyourracewasbarteredanditselectbetrayed-bythequestionerorbythemocker？Patience。RememberEpictetus。Itisprobablyinhischaractertoasksuchaquestionatsuchamomentinsuchatoneandtopronouncethewordscienceasamonosyllable。
Thedroningvoiceoftheprofessorcontinuedtowinditselfslowlyroundandroundthecoilsitspokeof，doubling，trebling，quadruplingitssomnolentenergyasthecoilmultiplieditsohmsofresistance。
Moynihan\'svoicecalledfrombehindinechotoadistantbell:——
Closingtime，gents!
Theentrancehallwascrowdedandloudwithtalk。Onatablenearthedoorweretwophotographsinframesandbetweenthemalongrollofpaperbearinganirregulartailofsignatures。MacCannwentbrisklytoandfroamongthestudents，talkingrapidly，answeringrebuffsandleadingoneafteranothertothetable。Intheinnerhallthedeanofstudiesstoodtalkingtoayoungprofessor，strokinghischingravelyandnoddinghishead。
Stephen，checkedbythecrowdatthedoor，haltedirresolutely。FromunderthewidefallingleafofasofthatCranly\'sdarkeyeswerewatchinghim——
Haveyousigned？Stephenasked。
Cranlyclosedhislongthin-lippedmouth，communedwithhimselfaninstantandanswered:——
Egohabeo——
Whatisitfor？——
Quod？——
Whatisitfor？
CranlyturnedhispalefacetoStephenandsaidblandlyandbitterly:——
Perpaxuniversalis——
StephenpointedtotheTsar\'sphotographandsaid:——
HehasthefaceofabesottedChrist。
ThescornandangerinhisvoicebroughtCranly\'seyesbackfromacalmsurveyofthewallsofthehall——
Areyouannoyed？heasked——
No，answeredStephen——
Areyouinbadhumour？——
No——
Credoutvossanguinariusmendaxestis，saidCranly，quiafaciesvostramonstratutvosindamnomalohumoreestis。
Moynihan，onhiswaytothetable，saidinStephen\'sear:——
MacCannisintiptopform。Readytoshedthelastdrop。Brandnewworld。Nostimulantsandvotesforthebitches。
Stephensmiledatthemannerofthisconfidenceand，whenMoynihanhadpassed，turnedagaintomeetCranly\'seyes——
Perhapsyoucantellme，hesaid，whyhepourshissoulsofreelyintomyear。Canyou？
AdullscowlappearedonCranly\'sforehead。HestaredatthetablewhereMoynihanhadbenttowritehisnameontheroll，andthensaidflatly:——
Asugar!——
Quisestinmalohumore，saidStephen，egoautvos？
Cranlydidnottakeupthetaunt。Hebroodedsourlyonhisjudgementandrepeatedwiththesameflatforce:——
Aflamingbloodysugar，that\'swhatheis!
ItwashisepitaphforalldeadfriendshipsandStephenwonderedwhetheritwouldeverbespokeninthesametoneoverhismemory。Theheavylumpishphrasesankslowlyoutofhearinglikeastonethroughaquagmire。Stephensawitsinkashehadseenmanyanother，feelingitsheavinessdepresshisheart。Cranly\'sspeech，unlikethatofDavin，hadneitherrarephrasesofElizabethanEnglishnorquaintlyturnedversionsofIrishidioms。ItsdrawlwasanechoofthequaysofDublingivenbackbyableakdecayingseaport，itsenergyanechoofthesacredeloquenceofDublingivenbackflatlybyaWicklowpulpit。
TheheavyscowlfadedfromCranly\'sfaceasMacCannmarchedbrisklytowardsthemfromtheothersideofthehall——
Hereyouare!saidMacCanncheerily——
HereIam!saidStephen——
Lateasusual。Canyounotcombinetheprogressivetendencywitharespectforpunctuality？——
Thatquestionisoutoforder，saidStephen。Nextbusiness。Hissmilingeyeswerefixedonasilver-wrappedtabletofmilkchocolatewhichpeepedoutofthepropagandist\'sbreast-pocket。
Alittleringoflistenersclosedroundtohearthewarofwits。Aleanstudentwitholiveskinandlankblackhairthrusthisfacebetweenthetwo，glancingfromonetotheotherateachphraseandseemingtotrytocatcheachflyingphraseinhisopenmoistmouth。Cranlytookasmallgreyhandballfromhispocketandbegantoexamineitclosely，turningitoverandover——
Nextbusiness？saidMacCann。Hom!
Hegavealoudcoughoflaughter，smiledbroadlyandtuggedtwiceatthestraw-colouredgoateewhichhungfromhisbluntchin——
Thenextbusinessistosignthetestimonial——
WillyoupaymeanythingifIsign？askedStephen——
Ithoughtyouwereanidealist，saidMacCann。
Thegipsy-likestudentlookedabouthimandaddressedtheonlookersinanindistinctbleatingvoice——
Byhell，that\'saqueernotion。Iconsiderthatnotiontobeamercenarynotion。
Hisvoicefadedintosilence。Noheedwaspaidtohiswords。Heturnedhisoliveface，equineinexpression，towardsStephen，invitinghimtospeakagain。
MacCannbegantospeakwithfluentenergyoftheTsar\'srescript，ofStead，ofgeneraldisarmamentarbitrationincasesofinternationaldisputes，ofthesignsofthetimes，ofthenewhumanityandthenewgospeloflifewhichwouldmakeitthebusinessofthecommunitytosecureascheaplyaspossiblethegreatestpossiblehappinessofthegreatestpossiblenumber。
Thegipsystudentrespondedtothecloseoftheperiodbycrying:——
Threecheersforuniversalbrotherhood!——
Goon，Temple，saidastoutruddystudentnearhim。I\'llstandyouapintafter——
I\'mabelieverinuniversalbrotherhood，saidTemple，glancingabouthimoutofhisdarkovaleyes。Marxisonlyabloodycod。
Cranlygrippedhisarmtightlytocheckhistongue，smilinguneasily，andrepeated:——
Easy，easy，easy!
Templestruggledtofreehisarmbutcontinued，hismouthfleckedbyathinfoam:——
SocialismwasfoundedbyanIrishmanandthefirstmaninEuropewhopreachedthefreedomofthoughtwasCollins。Twohundredyearsago。
Hedenouncedpriestcraft，thephilosopherofMiddlesex。ThreecheersforJohnAnthonyCollins!
Athinvoicefromthevergeoftheringreplied:——
Pip!pip!
MoynihanmurmuredbesideStephen\'sear:——
AndwhataboutJohnAnthony\'spoorlittlesister:LottieCollinslostherdrawers；
