Tuesday 8 October 2013

student who lounged against the wall, his peaked cap down on his eyes. The laugh, pitched in a high key and coming from a So muscular frame, seemed like the whinny of an elephant. The student's body shook all over and, to ease his mirth, he rubbed both his hands delightedly over his groins.

----Lynch is awake, said Cranly.

Lynch, for answer, straightened himself and thrust forward his chest.

----Lynch puts out his chest, said Stephen, as a criticism of life.

Lynch smote himself sonorously on the chest and said:

----Who has anything to say about my girth?

Cranly took him at the word and the two began to tussle. When their faces had flushed with the struggle they drew apart, panting. Stephen bent down towards Davin who, intent on the game, had paid no heed to the talk of the others.

----And how is my little tame goose? he asked. Did he sign, too?

David nodded and said:

----And you, Stevie?

Stephen shook his head.

----You're a terrible man, Stevie, said Davin, taking the short pipe from his mouth, always alone.

----Now that you have signed the petition for universal peace, said Stephen, I suppose you will burn that little copybook I saw in your room.

As Davin did not answer, Stephen began to quote:

----Long pace, fianna! Right incline, fianna! Fianna, by numbers, salute, one, two!

----That's a different question, said Davin. I'm an Irish nationalist, first and foremost. But that's you all out. You're a born sneerer, Stevie.

----When you make the next rebellion with hurleysticks,

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