Дублинцы

           Fanning,theregistrationagentandmayormakerofthecity,whowassittingimmediatelyunderthepulpitbesideoneofthenewlyelectedcouncillorsoftheward.TotherightsatoldMichaelGrimes,theownerofthreepawnbroker’sshops,andDanHogan’snephew,whowasupforthejobintheTownClerk’soffice.FartherinfrontsatMr.Hendrick,thechiefreporterofTheFreeman’sJournal,andpoorO’Carroll,anoldfriendofMr.Kernan’s,whohadbeenatonetimeaconsiderablecommercialfigure.Gradually,asherecognisedfamiliarfaces,Mr.Kernanbegantofeelmoreathome.Hishat,whichhadbeenrehabilitatedbyhiswife,resteduponhisknees.Onceortwicehepulleddownhiscuffswithonehandwhileheheldthebrimofhishatlightly,butfirmly,withtheotherhand.

           Apowerful-lookingfigure,theupperpartofwhichwasdrapedwithawhitesurplice,wasobservedtobestrugglingintothepulpit.Simultaneouslythecongregationunsettled,producedhandkerchiefsandkneltuponthemwithcare.Mr.Kernanfollowedthegeneralexample.Thepriest’sfigurenowstooduprightinthepulpit,two-thirdsofitsbulk,crownedbyamassiveredface,appearingabovethebalustrade.

           FatherPurdonkneltdown,turnedtowardstheredspeckoflightand,coveringhisfacewithhishands,prayed.Afteraninterval,heuncoveredhisfaceandrose.Thecongregationrosealsoandsettledagainonitsbenches.Mr.Kernanrestoredhishattoitsoriginalpositiononhiskneeandpresentedanattentivefacetothepreacher.