Marketplace.vat

Marketplace 

North (error) Street, being blind, was a quiet street except at the hour when the Christian (error) School set the boys free. An (error) house of two (error) stood at the blind end, (error) from its neighbours in a square ground. The other houses of the street, (error) of (error) lives within them,(error) at one another with brown (error) faces. 

The former (error) of our house, a priest, had died in the back drawing-room. Air, (error) from having been long (error) , (error) in all the rooms, and the waste room behind the (error)  was (error)  with old (error)  (error). Among these I found a few paper-covered books, the (error) of which were (error) and (error): The (error), by (error), The Devout (error) and The (error) of (error). I liked the last best because its leaves were yellow. The wild garden behind the house contained a (error) apple-tree and a few (error) bushes under one of which I found the late (error). He had been a very (error) priest; in his will he had left all his money to (error) and the furniture of his house to his sister. 

When the short days of winter came (error) fell before we had well eaten our (error). When we met in the street the houses had grown (error). The space of sky above us was the colour of ever-changing (error) and (error) it the lamps of the street lifted their feeble lanterns. The cold air (error) us and we played till our bodies (error). Our (error)  (error) in the silent street. The (error) of our play brought us through the dark (error) lanes behind the houses where we ran the (error) of the rough tribes from the cottages, to the back doors of the dark (error) gardens where odours arose from the (error), to the dark (error) (error) where a (error) (error) and (error) the horse or shook (error) from the (error) harness. When we returned to the street light from the kitchen windows had filled the areas. If my uncle was seen turning the corner we hid in the shadow until we had seen him safely housed. Or if Mangan’s sister came out on the (error) to call her brother in to his (error) we watched her from our shadow (error) up and down the street. We waited to see whether she would remain or go in and, if she remained, we left our shadow and walked up to (error) steps (error). She was waiting for us, her figure (error) by the light from the half-opened door. Her brother always (error) her before he obeyed and I stood by the railings looking at her. Her dress (error) as she moved her body and the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side. 

Every morning I lay on the floor in the front parlour watching her door. The blind was pulled down to within an (error) of the (error) so that I could not be seen. When she came out on the (error) my heart leaped. I ran to the hall, seized my books and followed her. I kept her brown figure always in my eye and, when we came near the point at which our ways (error), I quickened my (error) and passed her. This happened morning after morning. I had never spoken to her, except for a few (error) words, and yet her name was like a (error) to all my foolish blood. 

Her image accompanied me even in places the most (error) to (error). On (error) evenings when my aunt went (error) I had to go to carry some of the (error). We walked through the (error) streets, (error) by drunken men and (error) women, amid the curses of labourers, the (error) of (error) -boys who stood on guard by the barrels of (error)’ cheeks, the (error) of street-singers, who sang a come-all-you about (error), or a (error) about the troubles in our native land. These (error) in a single (error) of life for me: I imagined that I bore my (error) safely through a throng of foes. Her name sprang to my lips at (error) in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand. My eyes were often full of tears (I could not tell why) and at times a flood from my heart seemed to pour itself out into my bosom. I thought little of the (error). I did not know whether I would ever speak to her or not or, if I (error) to her, how I could tell her of my confused (error). But my body was like a harp and her words and (error) were like fingers running upon the wires. 

One evening I went into the back drawing-room in which the priest had died. It was a dark rainy evening and there was no sound in the house. Through one of the broken (error) I heard the rain impinge upon the earth, the fine (error) (error) of water playing in the sodden beds. Some distant lamp or lighted window (error) (error) me. I was thankful that I could see so little. All my senses seemed to desire to veil themselves and, feeling that I was about to slip from them, I pressed the palms of my hands together until they trembled, murmuring: “O love! O love!” many times. 

At last she (error) to me. When she (error) the first words to me I was so confused that I did not know what to answer. She asked me was I going to (error). I forgot whether I answered yes or no. It would be a (error) (error), she said; she would love to go. 

“And why can’t you?” I asked. 

While she (error) she turned a silver bracelet round and round her (error) She could not go, she said, because there would be a (error) that week in her (error). Her brother and two other boys were fighting for their (error) and I was alone at the railings. She held one of the (error), bowing her head (error) me. The light from the lamp (error) our door caught the white (error) of her neck, (error) up her hair that rested there and, falling, (error) up the hand upon the railing. It fell over one side of her dress and caught the white border of a (error), just visible as she stood at ease. 

“It’s well for you,” she said. 

“If I go,” I said, “I will bring you something.” 

What innumerable (error) laid waste my waking and sleeping thoughts after that evening! I wished to (error) the tedious (error) days. I chafed against the work of school. At night in my (error) and by day in the (error) her image came between me and the (error) I strove to read. The (error) of the word (error) were called to me through the silence in which my soul (error) and cast an (error) enchantment over me. I asked for leave to go to the (error) on (error) night. My aunt was surprised and hoped it was not some (error). I answered few questions in (error). I watched my master’s face pass from (error) to (error); he hoped I was not beginning to idle. I could not call my wandering thoughts together. I had hardly any patience with the (error) work of life which, now that it stood between me and my desire, seemed to me child’s play, (error) (error) child’s play. 

On (error) morning I (error) my uncle that I wished to go to the (error) in the evening. He was (error) at the (error), looking for the (error), and answered me (error): 

“Yes, boy, I know.” 

As he was in the hall I could not go into the front parlour and lie at the window. I left the house in bad (error) and walked slowly (error) the school. The air was (error) raw and already my heart (error) me. 

When I came home to dinner my uncle had not yet been home. Still it was early. I sat staring at the (error) for some time and, when its ticking began to (error) me, I left the room. I mounted the (error) and gained the upper part of the house. The high cold empty gloomy rooms (error) me and I went from room to room singing. From the front window I saw my companions playing (error) in the street. Their cries reached me weakened and (error) and, leaning my forehead against the cool glass, I looked over at the dark house where she lived. I may have stood there for an hour, seeing nothing but the brown-clad figure cast by my imagination, touched discreetly by the (error) at the (error) neck, at the hand upon the railings and at the border (error) the dress. 

When I came (error) again I found (error) sitting at the fire. She was an old (error) woman, a (error) widow, who (error) used (error) for some (error) purpose. I had to endure the (error) of the (error)-table. The meal was prolonged beyond an hour and still my uncle did not come. (error) stood up to go: she was sorry she (error) wait any longer, but it was after eight o’(error) and she did not like to be out late as the night air was bad for her. When she had gone I began to walk up and down the room, (error) my fists. My aunt said: 

“I’m afraid you may put off your (error) for this night of Our Lord.” 

At nine o’(error) I heard my uncle’s (error) in the (error). I heard him talking to himself and heard the (error)  when it had received the weight of his (error). I could interpret these signs. When he was (error) through his dinner I asked him to give me the money to go to the (error). He had forgotten. 

“The people are in bed and after their first sleep now,” he said. 

I did not (error). My aunt said to him (error): 

“Can’t you give him the money and let him go? You’ve kept him late enough as it is.” 

My uncle said he was very sorry he had forgotten. He said he believed in the old saying: “All work and no play (error) a dull boy.” He asked me where I was going and, when I had told him a second time he asked me did I know The Arab’s Farewell to his (error). When I left the (error) he was about to (error)  the opening lines of the piece to my aunt. 

I held a (error) in my hand as I (error) down (error) Street (error) the station. The sight of the streets thronged with (error) and (error) with (error) to me the purpose of my journey. I took my seat in a third-(error) carriage of a (error) train. After an (error) delay the train moved out of the station slowly. It crept onward among ruinous houses and over the twinkling river. At (error) Row Station a (error) of people pressed to the carriage doors; but the porters moved them back, saying that it was a special train for the (error) I remained alone in the bare carriage. In a few (error)  the train drew up beside an (error). I passed out on to the road and saw by the lighted dial of a (error) that it was ten (error) to ten. In front of me was a large building which displayed the (error) name. 

I could not find any (error) entrance and, fearing that the (error) would be closed, I passed in quickly through a (error) a (error) to a weary-looking man. I found myself in a (error) hall (error) at half its height by a gallery. (error) all the stalls were closed and the greater part of the hall was in darkness. I (error) a silence like that which (error) a church after a service. I walked into the (error) of the (error). A few people were gathered about the stalls which were still open. Before a curtain, over which the words (error) were written in coloured lamps, two men were counting money on a (error). I (error) to the fall of the (error). 

Remembering with (error) why I had come I went over to one of the stalls and examined (error) and (error). At the door of the stall a young lady was talking and laughing with two young (error). I (error) their (error) and (error)  to their conversation. 

“O, I never said such a thing!” 

“O, but you did!” 

“O, but I (error)!” 

“(error) she say that?” 

“Yes. I heard her.” 

“O, there’s a ... (error)!” 

(error) me the young lady came over and asked me did I wish to buy (error). The (error) of her voice was not (error); she seemed to have spoken to me out of a sense of duty. I looked humbly at the great (error) that stood like (error) at either side of the dark entrance to the stall and murmured: 

“No, thank you.” 

The young lady changed the (error) of one of the (error) and went back to the two young men. They began to talk of the same subject. Once or twice the young lady (error) at me over her shoulder. 

I lingered before her stall, though I knew my stay was (error), to make my (error) in her wares seem the more (error). Then I turned away slowly and walked down the middle of the (error) I allowed the two (error) to fall against the (error)in my (error). I heard a voice call from one end of the gallery that the light was out. The upper part of the hall was now (error) dark. 

Gazing up into the darkness I saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity; and my eyes burned with anguish and anger.