said Stephen, and want the indispensable informer, tell me. I can find you a few in this college.

----I can't understand you, said Davin. One time I hear you talk against English literature. Now you talk against the Irish informers. What with your name and your ideas....Are you Irish at all?

----Come with me now to the office of arms and I will show you the tree of my family, said Stephen.

----Then be one of us, said Davin. Why don't you learn Irish? Why did you drop out of the league class after the first lesson?

----You know one reason why, answered Stephen. Davin toss his head and laughed.

----Oh, come now, he said. Is it on account of that certain young lady and Father Moran? But that's all in your own mind, Stevie. They were only talking and laughing.

Stephen paused and laid a friendly hand upon Davin's shoulder.

----Do you remember, he said, when we knew each other first? The first morning we met you asked me to show you the way to the matriculation class, putting a very strong stress on the first syllable. You remember? Then you used to address the jesuits as father, you remember? I ask myself about you: Is he a innocent as his speech?

----I'm a simple person, said Davin. You know that. When you told me that night in Harcourt Street those things about your private life, honest to God, Stevie, I was not able to eat my dinner. I was quite bad. I was awake a long time that night. Why did you tell me those things?

----Thanks, said Stephen. You mean I am a monster.

----No, said Davin. But I wish you had not told me.

A tide began to surge beneath the calm surface of Stephen's friendliness.