Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Itwasapriest-likeface,priest-likeinitspalor,inthewidewingednose,intheshadowingsbelowtheeyesandalongthejaws,priest-likeinthelipsthatwerelongandbloodlessandfaintlysmiling;andStephen,rememberingswiftlyhowhehadtoldCranlyofallthetumultsandunrestandlongingsinhissoul,dayafterdayandnightbynight,onlytobeansweredbyhisfriend’slisteningsilence,wouldhavetoldhimselfthatitwasthefaceofaguiltypriestwhoheardconfessionsofthosewhomhehadnotpowertoabsolvebutthathefeltagaininmemorythegazeofitsdarkwomanisheyes.
Throughthisimagehehadaglimpseofastrangedarkcavernofspeculationbutatonceturnedawayfromit,feelingthatitwasnotyetthehourtoenterit.Butthenightshadeofhisfriend’slistlessnessseemedtobediffusingintheairaroundhimatenuousanddeadlyexhalationandbefoundhimselfglancingfromonecasualwordtoanotheronhisrightorleftinstolidwonderthattheyhadbeensosilentlyemptiedofinstantaneoussenseuntileverymeanshoplegendboundhismindlikethewordsofaspellandhissoulshrivelledupsighingwithageashewalkedoninalaneamongheapsofdeadlanguage.
