第1章

OnceuponatimeandaverygoodtimeitwastherewasamoocowcomingdownalongtheroadandthismoocowthatwascomingdownalongtheroadmetanicenslittleboynamedbabytuckooHisfathertoldhimthatstory:hisfatherlookedathimthroughaglass:

hehadahairyface。

Hewasbabytuckoo。ThemoocowcamedowntheroadwhereBettyByrnelived:shesoldlemonplatt。O，thewildroseblossomsOnthelittlegreenplace。Hesangthatsong。Thatwashissong。O，thegreenwothebotheth。Whenyouwetthebedfirstitiswarmthenitgetscold。Hismotherputontheoilsheet。Thathadthequeersmell。

Hismotherhadanicersmellthanhisfather。Sheplayedonthepianothesailor\'shornpipeforhimtodance。Hedanced:Tralalalala，Tralalatralaladdy，Tralalalala，Tralalalala。UncleCharlesandDanteclapped。TheywereolderthanhisfatherandmotherbutuncleCharleswasolderthanDante。

Dantehadtwobrushesinherpress。ThebrushwiththemaroonvelvetbackwasforMichaelDavittandthebrushwiththegreenvelvetbackwasforParnell。Dantegavehimacachoueverytimehebroughtherapieceoftissuepaper。

TheVanceslivedinnumberseven。Theyhadadifferentfatherandmother。

TheywereEileen\'sfatherandmother。WhentheyweregrownuphewasgoingtomarryEileen。Hehidunderthetable。Hismothersaid:——

O，Stephenwillapologize。

Dantesaid:——

O，ifnot，theeagleswillcomeandpullouthiseyes——Pullouthiseyes，Apologize，Apologize，Pullouthiseyes。

Apologize，Pullouthiseyes，Pullouthiseyes，Apologize。Thewideplaygroundswereswarmingwithboys。Allwereshoutingandtheprefectsurgedthemonwithstrongcries。Theeveningairwaspaleandchillyandaftereverychargeandthudofthefootballersthegreasyleatherorbflewlikeaheavybirdthroughthegreylight。Hekeptonthefringeofhisline，outofsightofhisprefect，outofthereachoftherudefeet，feigningtorunnowandthen。Hefelthisbodysmallandweakamidthethrongoftheplayersandhiseyeswereweakandwatery。RodyKickhamwasnotlikethat:hewouldbecaptainofthethirdlineallthefellowssaid。

RodyKickhamwasadecentfellowbutNastyRochewasastink。RodyKickhamhadgreavesinhisnumberandahamperintherefectory。NastyRochehadbighands。HecalledtheFridaypuddingdog-in-the-blanket。Andonedaybehadasked:——

Whatisyourname？

Stephenhadanswered:StephenDedalus。

ThenNastyRochehadsaid:——

Whatkindofanameisthat？

AndwhenStephenhadnotbeenabletoanswerNastyRochehadasked:——

Whatisyourfather？

Stephenhadanswered:——

Agentleman。

ThenNastyRochehadasked:——

Isheamagistrate？

Hecreptaboutfrompointtopointonthefringeofhisline，makinglittlerunsnowandthen。Buthishandswerebluishwithcold。Hekepthishandsinthesidepocketsofhisbeltedgreysuit。Thatwasabeltroundhispocket。Andbeltwasalsotogiveafellowabelt。OnedayafellowsaidtoCantwell:——

I\'dgiveyousuchabeltinasecond。

Cantwellhadanswered:——

Goandfightyourmatch。GiveCecilThunderabelt。I\'dliketoseeyou。He\'dgiveyouatoeintherumpforyourself。

Thatwasnotaniceexpression。Hismotherhadtoldhimnottospeakwiththeroughboysinthecollege。Nicemother!Thefirstdayinthehallofthecastlewhenshehadsaidgoodbyeshehadputupherveildoubletohernosetokisshim:andhernoseandeyeswerered。Buthehadpretendednottoseethatshewasgoingtocry。Shewasanicemotherbutshewasnotsonicewhenshecried。Andhisfatherhadgivenhimtwofive-shillingpiecesforpocketmoney。Andhisfatherhadtoldhimifhewantedanythingtowritehometohimand，whateverhedid，nevertopeachonafellow。

Thenatthedoorofthecastletherectorhadshakenhandswithhisfatherandmother，hissoutaneflutteringinthebreeze，andthecarhaddrivenoffwithhisfatherandmotheronit。Theyhadcriedtohimfromthecar，wavingtheirhands:——

Goodbye，Stephen，goodbye!——

Goodbye，Stephen，goodbye!

Hewascaughtinthewhirlofascrimmageand，fearfuloftheflashingeyesandmuddyboots，bentdowntolookthroughthelegs。Thefellowswerestrugglingandgroaningandtheirlegswererubbingandkickingandstamping。

ThenJackLawton\'syellowbootsdodgedouttheballandalltheotherbootsandlegsranafter。Heranafterthemalittlewayandthenstopped。Itwasuselesstorunon。Soontheywouldbegoinghomefortheholidays。

Aftersupperinthestudyhallhewouldchangethenumberpastedupinsidehisdeskfromseventy-seventoseventy-six。

Itwouldbebettertobeinthestudyhallthanoutthereinthecold。

Theskywaspaleandcoldbuttherewerelightsinthecastle。HewonderedfromwhichwindowHamiltonRowanhadthrownhishatontheha-haandhadtherebeenflowerbedsatthattimeunderthewindows。Onedaywhenhehadbeencalledtothecastlethebutlerhadshownhimthemarksofthesoldiers\'

slugsinthewoodofthedoorandhadgivenhimapieceofshortbreadthatthecommunityate。Itwasniceandwarmtoseethelightsinthecastle。

Itwaslikesomethinginabook。PerhapsLeicesterAbbeywaslikethat。

AndtherewerenicesentencesinDoctorCornwell\'sSpellingBook。Theywerelikepoetrybuttheywereonlysentencestolearnthespellingfrom。WolseydiedinLeicesterAbbeyWheretheabbotsburiedhim。

Cankerisadiseaseofplanis，Canceroneofanimals。Itwouldbenicetolieonthehearthrugbeforethefire，leaninghisheaduponhishands，andthinkonthosesentences。Heshiveredasifhehadcoldslimywaternexthisskin。ThatwasmeanofWellstoshoulderhimintothesquareditchbecausehewouldnotswophislittlesnuffboxforWells\'sseasonedhackingchestnut，theconquerorofforty。Howcoldandslimythewaterhadbeen!Afellowhadonceseenabigratjumpintothescum。MotherwassittingatthefirewithDantewaitingforBrigidtobringinthetea。Shehadherfeetonthefenderandherjewellyslippersweresohotandtheyhadsuchalovelywarmsmell!Danteknewalotofthings。

ShehadtaughthimwheretheMozambiqueChannelwasandwhatwasthelongestriverinAmericaandwhatwasthenameofthehighestmountaininthemoon。

FatherArnallknewmorethanDantebecausehewasapriestbutbothhisfatheranduncleCharlessaidthatDantewasacleverwomanandawell-readwoman。AndwhenDantemadethatnoiseafterdinnerandthenputupherhandtohermouth:thatwasheartburn。

Avoicecriedfaroutontheplayground:——

Allin!

Thenothervoicescriedfromthelowerandthirdlines:——

Allin!Allin!

Theplayersclosedaround，flushedandmuddy，andhewentamongthem，gladtogoin。RodyKickhamheldtheballbyitsgreasylace。Afellowaskedhimtogiveitonelast:buthewalkedonwithoutevenansweringthefellow。SimonMoonantoldhimnottobecausetheprefectwaslooking。

ThefellowturnedtoSimonMoonanandsaid:——

Weallknowwhyyouspeak。YouareMcGlade\'ssuck。

Suckwasaqueerword。ThefellowcalledSimonMoonanthatnamebecauseSimonMoonanusedtotietheprefect\'sfalsesleevesbehindhisbackandtheprefectusedtoletontobeangry。Butthesoundwasugly。OncehehadwashedhishandsinthelavatoryoftheWicklowHotelandhisfatherpulledthestopperupbythechainafterandthedirtywaterwentdownthroughtheholeinthebasin。Andwhenithadallgonedownslowlytheholeinthebasinhadmadeasoundlikethat:suck。Onlylouder。

Torememberthatandthewhitelookofthelavatorymadehimfeelcoldandthenhot。Thereweretwococksthatyouturnedandwatercameout:

coldandhot。Hefeltcoldandthenalittlehot:andhecouldseethenamesprintedonthecocks。Thatwasaveryqueerthing。

Andtheairinthecorridorchilledhimtoo。Itwasqueerandwettish。

Butsoonthegaswouldbelitandinburningitmadealightnoiselikealittlesong。Alwaysthesame:andwhenthefellowsstoppedtalkingintheplayroomyoucouldhearit。

Itwasthehourforsums。FatherArnallwroteahardsumontheboardandthensaid:——

Nowthen，whowillwin？Goahead，York!Goahead，Lancaster!

Stephentriedhisbest，butthesumwastoohardandhefeltconfused。

Thelittlesilkbadgewiththewhiteroseonitthatwaspinnedonthebreastofhisjacketbegantoflutter。Hewasnogoodatsums，buthetriedhisbestsothatYorkmightnotlose。FatherArnall\'sfacelookedveryblack，buthewasnotinawax:hewaslaughing。ThenJackLawtoncrackedhisfingersandFatherArnalllookedathiscopybookandsaid:——

Right。BravoLancaster!Theredrosewins。Comeonnow，York!Forgeahead!

JackLawtonlookedoverfromhisside。Thelittlesilkbadgewiththeredroseonitlookedveryrichbecausehehadabluesailortopon。Stephenfelthisownfaceredtoo，thinkingofallthebetsaboutwhowouldgetfirstplaceinelements，JackLawtonorhe。SomeweeksJackLawtongotthecardforfirstandsomeweekshegotthecardforfirst。HiswhitesilkbadgeflutteredandflutteredasheworkedatthenextsumandheardFatherArnall\'svoice。Thenallhiseagernesspassedawayandhefelthisfacequitecool。Hethoughthisfacemustbewhitebecauseitfeltsocool。

Hecouldnotgetouttheanswerforthesumbutitdidnotmatter。Whiterosesandredroses:thosewerebeautifulcolourstothinkof。Andthecardsforfirstplaceandsecondplaceandthirdplacewerebeautifulcolourstoo:pinkandcreamandlavender。Lavenderandcreamandpinkroseswerebeautifultothinkof。Perhapsawildrosemightbelikethosecoloursandherememberedthesongaboutthewildroseblossomsonthelittlegreenplace。Butyoucouldnothaveagreenrose。Butperhapssomewhereintheworldyoucould。

Thebellrangandthentheclassesbegantofileoutoftheroomsandalongthecorridorstowardstherefectory。Hesatlookingatthetwoprintsofbutteronhisplatebutcouldnoteatthedampbread。Thetableclothwasdampandlimp。Buthedrankoffthehotweakteawhichtheclumsyscullion，girtwithawhiteapron，pouredintohiscup。Hewonderedwhetherthescullion\'sapronwasdamptooorwhetherallwhitethingswerecoldanddamp。NastyRocheandSaurindrankcocoathattheirpeoplesentthemintins。Theysaidtheycouldnotdrinkthetea；thatitwashogwash。Theirfathersweremagistrates，thefellowssaid。

Alltheboysseemedtohimverystrange。Theyhadallfathersandmothersanddifferentclothesandvoices。Helongedtobeathomeandlayhisheadonhismother\'slap。Buthecouldnot:andsohelongedfortheplayandstudyandprayerstobeoverandtobeinbed。

HedrankanothercupofhotteaandFlemingsaid:——

What\'sup？Haveyouapainorwhat\'supwithyou？——

Idon\'tknow，Stephensaid——

Sickinyourbreadbasket，Flemingsaid，becauseyourfacelookswhite。

Itwillgoaway——

Oyes，Stephensaid。

Buthewasnotsickthere。Hethoughtthathewassickinhisheartifyoucouldbesickinthatplace。Flemingwasverydecenttoaskhim。

Hewantedtocry。Heleanedhiselbowsonthetableandshutandopenedtheflapsofhisears。Thenheheardthenoiseoftherefectoryeverytimeheopenedtheflapsofhisears。Itmadearoarlikeatrainatnight。

Andwhenheclosedtheflapstheroarwasshutofflikeatraingoingintoatunnel。ThatnightatDalkeythetrainhadroaredlikethatandthen，whenitwentintothetunnel，theroarstopped。Heclosedhiseyesandthetrainwenton，roaringandthenstopping；roaringagain，stopping。

Itwasnicetohearitroarandstopandthenroaroutofthetunnelagainandthenstop。

Thenthehigherlinefellowsbegantocomedownalongthemattinginthemiddleoftherefectory，PaddyRathandJimmyMageeandtheSpaniardwhowasallowedtosmokecigarsandthelittlePortuguesewhoworethewoollycap。Andthenthelowerlinetablesandthetablesofthethirdline。Andeverysinglefellowhadadifferentwayofwalking。

Hesatinacorneroftheplayroompretendingtowatchagameofdominoesandonceortwicehewasabletohearforaninstantthelittlesongofthegas。TheprefectwasatthedoorwithsomeboysandSimonMoonanwasknottinghisfalsesleeves。HewastellingthemsomethingaboutTullabeg。

ThenhewentawayfromthedoorandWellscameovertoStephenandsaid:——

Tellus，Dedalus，doyoukissyourmotherbeforeyougotobed？

Stephenanswered:——

Ido。

Wellsturnedtotheotherfellowsandsaid:——

O，Isay，here\'safellowsayshekisseshismothereverynightbeforehegoestobed。

Theotherfellowsstoppedtheirgameandturnedround，laughing。Stephenblushedundertheireyesandsaid:——

Idonot。

Wellssaid:——

O，Isay，here\'safellowsayshedoesn\'tkisshismotherbeforehegoestobed。

Theyalllaughedagain。Stephentriedtolaughwiththem。Hefelthiswholebodyhotandconfusedinamoment。Whatwastherightanswertothequestion？HehadgiventwoandstillWellslaughed。ButWellsmustknowtherightanswerforhewasinthirdofgrammar。HetriedtothinkofWells\'smotherbuthedidnotdaretoraisehiseyestoWells\'sface。HedidnotlikeWells\'sface。ItwasWellswhohadshoulderedhimintothesquareditchthedaybeforebecausehewouldnotswophislittlesnuffboxforWells\'sseasonedhackingchestnut，theconquerorofforty。Itwasameanthingtodo；allthefellowssaiditwas。Andhowcoldandslimythewaterhadbeen!Andafellowhadonceseenabigratjumpplopintothescum。

Thecoldslimeoftheditchcoveredhiswholebody；and，whenthebellrangforstudyandthelinesfiledoutoftheplayrooms，hefeltthecoldairofthecorridorandstaircaseinsidehisclothes。Hestilltriedtothinkwhatwastherightanswer。Wasitrighttokisshismotherorwrongtokisshismother？Whatdidthatmean，tokiss？Youputyourfaceuplikethattosaygoodnightandthenhismotherputherfacedown。Thatwastokiss。Hismotherputherlipsonhischeek；herlipsweresoftandtheywettedhischeek；andtheymadeatinylittlenoise:kiss。Whydidpeopledothatwiththeirtwofaces？

Sittinginthestudyhallheopenedthelidofhisdeskandchangedthenumberpastedupinsidefromseventy-seventoseventy-six。ButtheChristmasvacationwasveryfaraway:butonetimeitwouldcomebecausetheearthmovedroundalways。

Therewasapictureoftheearthonthefirstpageofhisgeography:

abigballinthemiddleofclouds。Fleminghadaboxofcrayonsandonenightduringfreestudyhehadcolouredtheearthgreenandthecloudsmaroon。ThatwaslikethetwobrushesinDante\'spress，thebrushwiththegreenvelvetbackforParnellandthebrushwiththemaroonvelvetbackforMichaelDavitt。ButhehadnottoldFlemingtocolourthemthosecolours。Fleminghaddoneithimself。

Heopenedthegeographytostudythelesson；buthecouldnotlearnthenamesofplacesinAmerica。Stilltheywerealldifferentplacesthathaddifferentnames。Theywereallindifferentcountriesandthecountrieswereincontinentsandthecontinentswereintheworldandtheworldwasintheuniverse。

Heturnedtotheflyleafofthegeographyandreadwhathehadwrittenthere:himself，hisnameandwherehewas。StephenDedalusClassofElementsClongowesWoodCollegeSallinsCountyKildareIrelandEuropeTheWorldTheUniverseThatwasinhiswriting:andFlemingonenightforacodhadwrittenontheoppositepage:StephenDedalusismyname，Irelandismynation。

ClongowesismydwellingplaceAndheavenmyexpectation。Hereadtheversesbackwardsbutthentheywerenotpoetry。Thenhereadtheflyleaffromthebottomtothetoptillhecametohisownname。Thatwashe:andhereaddownthepageagain。Whatwasaftertheuniverse？

Nothing。Butwasthereanythingroundtheuniversetoshowwhereitstoppedbeforethenothingplacebegan？

Itcouldnotbeawall；buttherecouldbeathinthinlinethereallroundeverything。Itwasverybigtothinkabouteverythingandeverywhere。

OnlyGodcoulddothat。Hetriedtothinkwhatabigthoughtthatmustbe；buthecouldonlythinkofGod。GodwasGod\'snamejustashisnamewasStephen。DieuwastheFrenchforGodandthatwasGod\'snametoo；andwhenanyoneprayedtoGodandsaidDieuthenGodknewatoncethatitwasaFrenchpersonthatwaspraying。But，thoughthereweredifferentnamesforGodinallthedifferentlanguagesintheworldandGodunderstoodwhatallthepeoplewhoprayedsaidintheirdifferentlanguages，stillGodremainedalwaysthesameGodandGod\'srealnamewasGod。

Itmadehimverytiredtothinkthatway。Itmadehimfeelhisheadverybig。Heturnedovertheflyleafandlookedwearilyatthegreenroundearthinthemiddleofthemaroonclouds。Hewonderedwhichwasright，tobeforthegreenorforthemaroon，becauseDantehadrippedthegreenvelvetbackoffthebrushthatwasforParnellonedaywithherscissorsandhadtoldhimthatParnellwasabadman。Hewonderediftheywerearguingathomeaboutthat。Thatwascalledpolitics。Thereweretwosidesinit:

DantewasononesideandhisfatherandMrCaseywereontheothersidebuthismotheranduncleCharleswereonnoside。Everydaytherewassomethinginthepaperaboutit。

Itpainedhimthathedidnotknowwellwhatpoliticsmeantandthathedidnotknowwheretheuniverseended。Hefeltsmallandweak。Whenwouldhebelikethefellowsinpoetryandrhetoric？Theyhadbigvoicesandbigbootsandtheystudiedtrigonometry。Thatwasveryfaraway。Firstcamethevacationandthenthenexttermandthenvacationagainandthenagainanothertermandthenagainthevacation。Itwaslikeatraingoinginandoutoftunnelsandthatwaslikethenoiseoftheboyseatingintherefectorywhenyouopenedandclosedtheflapsoftheears。Term，vacation；

tunnel，out；noise，stop。Howfarawayitwas!Itwasbettertogotobedtosleep。Onlyprayersinthechapelandthenbed。Heshiveredandyawned。

Itwouldbelovelyinbedafterthesheetsgotabithot。Firsttheyweresocoldtogetinto。Heshiveredtothinkhowcoldtheywerefirst。Butthentheygothotandthenhecouldsleep。Itwaslovelytobetired。Heyawnedagain。Nightprayersandthenbed:heshiveredandwantedtoyawn。

Itwouldbelovelyinafewminutes。Hefeltawarmglowcreepingupfromthecoldshiveringsheets，warmerandwarmertillhefeltwarmallover，eversowarmandyetheshiveredalittleandstillwantedtoyawn。

Thebellrangfornightprayersandhefiledoutofthestudyhallaftertheothersanddownthestaircaseandalongthecorridorstothechapel。

Thecorridorsweredarklylitandthechapelwasdarklylit。Soonallwouldbedarkandsleeping。Therewascoldnightairinthechapelandthemarbleswerethecolourtheseawasatnight。Theseawascolddayandnight:butitwascolderatnight。Itwascoldanddarkundertheseawallbesidehisfather\'shouse。Butthekettlewouldbeonthehobtomakepunch。

Theprefectofthechapelprayedabovehisheadandhismemoryknewtheresponses:OLOrdopenourlipsAndourmouthsshallannounceThypraise。

Inclineuntoouraid，OGod!

OLordmakehastetohelpus!Therewasacoldnightsmellinthechapel。Butitwasaholysmell。ItwasnotlikethesmelloftheoldpeasantswhokneltatthebackofthechapelatSundaymass。Thatwasasmellofairandrainandturfandcorduroy。

Buttheywereveryholypeasants。TheybreathedbehindhimOnhisneckandsighedastheyprayed。TheylivedinClane，afellowsaid:therewerelittlecottagesthereandhehadseenawomanstandingatthehalf-doorofacottagewithachildinherarmsasthecarshadcomepastfromSallins。

Itwouldbelovelytosleepforonenightinthatcottagebeforethefireofsmokingturf，inthedarklitbythefire，inthewarmdark，breathingthesmellofthepeasants，airandrainandturfandcorduroy。ButO，theroadtherebetweenthetreeswasdark!Youwouldbelostinthedark。Itmadehimafraidtothinkofhowitwas。

Heheardthevoiceoftheprefectofthechapelsayingthelastprayers。

Heprayedittooagainstthedarkoutsideunderthetrees。Visit，webeseechThee，OLord，thishabitationanddriveawayfromitallthesnaresoftheenemy。MayThyholyangelsdwellhereintopreserveusinpeaceandmayThyblessingsbealwaysuponusthroughChristourLord。

Amen。Hisfingerstrembledasheundressedhimselfinthedormitory。Hetoldhisfingerstohurryup。Hehadtoundressandthenkneelandsayhisownprayersandbeinbedbeforethegaswasloweredsothathemightnotgotohellwhenhedied。Herolledhisstockingsoffandputonhisnightshirtquicklyandknelttremblingathisbedsideandrepeatedhisprayersquickly，fearingthatthegaswouldgodown。Hefelthisshouldersshakingashemurmured:Godblessmyfatherandmymotherandsparethemtome!

Godblessmylittlebrothersandsistersandsparethemtome!

GodblessDanteandUncleCharlesandsparethemtome!Heblessedhimselfandclimbedquicklyintobedand，tuckingtheendofthenightshirtunderhisfeet，curledhimselftogetherunderthecoldwhitesheets，shakingandtrembling。Buthewouldnotgotohellwhenhedied；

andtheshakingwouldstop。Avoicebadetheboysinthedormitorygoodnight。Hepeeredoutforaninstantoverthecoverletandsawtheyellowcurtainsroundandbeforehisbedthatshuthimoffonallsides。Thelightwasloweredquietly。

Theprefect\'sshoeswentaway。Where？Downthestaircaseandalongthecorridorsortohisroomattheend？Hesawthedark。Wasittrueabouttheblackdogthatwalkedthereatnightwitheyesasbigascarriage-lamps？

Theysaiditwastheghostofamurderer。Alongshiveroffearflowedoverhisbody。Hesawthedarkentrancehallofthecastle。Oldservantsinolddresswereintheironing-roomabovethestaircase。Itwaslongago。Theoldservantswerequiet。Therewasafirethere，butthehallwasstilldark。Afigurecameupthestaircasefromthehall。Heworethewhitecloakofamarshal；hisfacewaspaleandstrange；heheldhishandpressedtohisside。Helookedoutofstrangeeyesattheoldservants。

Theylookedathimandsawtheirmaster\'sfaceandcloakandknewthathehadreceivedhisdeath-wound。Butonlythedarkwaswheretheylooked:

onlydarksilentair。Theirmasterhadreceivedhisdeath-woundonthebattlefieldofPraguefarawayoverthesea。Hewasstandingonthefield；

hishandwaspressedtohisside；hisfacewaspaleandstrangeandheworethewhitecloakofamarshal。

Ohowcoldandstrangeitwastothinkofthat!Allthedarkwascoldandstrange。Therewerepalestrangefacesthere，greateyeslikecarriage-lamps。

Theyweretheghostsofmurderers，thefiguresofmarshalswhohadreceivedtheirdeath-woundonbattlefieldsfarawayoverthesea。Whatdidtheywishtosaythattheirfacesweresostrange？Visit，webeseechThee，OLord，thishabitationanddriveawayfromitallGoinghomefortheholidays!Thatwouldbelovely:thefellowshadtoldhim。Gettinguponthecarsintheearlywintrymorningoutsidethedoorofthecastle。Thecarswererollingonthegravel。Cheersfortherector!

Hurray!Hurray!Hurray!

Thecarsdrovepastthechapelandallcapswereraised。Theydrovemerrilyalongthecountryroads。ThedriverspointedwiththeirwhipstoBodenstown。Thefellowscheered。TheypassedthefarmhouseoftheJollyFarmer。Cheeraftercheeraftercheer。ThroughClanetheydrove，cheeringandcheered。Thepeasantwomenstoodatthehalf-doors，themenstoodhereandthere。Thelovelysmelltherewasinthewintryair:thesmellofClane:

rainandwintryairandturfsmoulderingandcorduroy。

Thetrainwasfulloffellows:alonglongchocolatetrainwithcreamfacings。Theguardswenttoandfroopening，closing，locking，unlockingthedoors。Theyweremenindarkblueandsilver；theyhadsilverywhistlesandtheirkeysmadeaquickmusic:click，click:click，click。

AndthetrainracedonovertheflatlandsandpasttheHillofAllen。

Thetelegraphpoleswerepassing，passing。Thetrainwentonandon。Itknew。Therewerelanternsinthehallofhisfather\'shouseandropesofgreenbranches。Therewerehollyandivyroundthepierglassandhollyandivy，greenandred，twinedroundthechandeliers。Therewereredhollyandgreenivyroundtheoldportraitsonthewalls。HollyandivyforhimandforChristmas。

LovelyAllthepeople。Welcomehome，Stephen!Noisesofwelcome。Hismotherkissedhim。Wasthatright？Hisfatherwasamarshalnow:higherthanamagistrate。Welcomehome，Stephen!

NoisesTherewasanoiseofcurtain-ringsrunningbackalongtherods，ofwaterbeingsplashedinthebasins。Therewasanoiseofrisinganddressingandwashinginthedormitory:anoiseofclappingofhandsastheprefectwentupanddowntellingthefellowstolooksharp。Apalesunlightshowedtheyellowcurtainsdrawnback，thetossedbeds。Hisbedwasveryhotandhisfaceandbodywereveryhot。

Hegotupandsatonthesideofhisbed。Hewasweak。Hetriedtopullonhisstocking。Ithadahorridroughfeel。Thesunlightwasqueerandcold。

Flemingsaid:——

Areyounotwell？

Hedidnotknow；andFlemingsaid:——

Getbackintobed。I\'lltellMcGladeyou\'renotwell——

He\'ssick——

Whois？——

TellMcGlade——

Getbackintobed——

Ishesick？

Afellowheldhisarmswhileheloosenedthestockingclingingtohisfootandclimbedbackintothehotbed。

Hecroucheddownbetweenthesheets，gladoftheirtepidglow。Heheardthefellowstalkamongthemselvesabouthimastheydressedformass。Itwasameanthingtodo，toshoulderhimintothesquareditch，theyweresaying——Thentheirvoicesceased；theyhadgone。Avoiceathisbedsaid:——

Dedalus，don\'tspyonus，sureyouwon\'t？

Wells\'sfacewasthere。HelookedatitandsawthatWellswasafraid——

Ididn\'tmeanto。Sureyouwon\'t？

Hisfatherhadtoldhim，whateverhedid，nevertopeachonafellow。

Heshookhisheadandanswerednoandfeltglad。

Wellssaid:——

Ididn\'tmeanto，honourbright。Itwasonlyforcod。I\'msorry。

Thefaceandthevoicewentaway。Sorrybecausehewasafraid。Afraidthatitwassomedisease。Cankerwasadiseaseofplantsandcanceroneofanimals:oranotherdifferent。Thatwasalongtimeagothenoutontheplaygroundsintheeveninglight，creepingfrompointtopointonthefringeofhisline，aheavybirdflyinglowthroughthegreylight。LeicesterAbbeylitup。Wolseydiedthere。Theabbotsburiedhimthemselves。

ItwasnotWells\'sface，itwastheprefect\'s。Hewasnotfoxing。No，no:hewassickreally。Hewasnotfoxing。Andhefelttheprefect\'shandonhisforehead；andhefelthisforeheadwarmanddampagainsttheprefect\'scolddamphand。Thatwasthewayaratfelt，slimyanddampandcold。Everyrathadtwoeyestolookoutof。Sleekslimycoats，littlelittlefeettuckeduptojump，blackslimyeyestolookoutof。Theycouldunderstandhowtojump。Butthemindsofratscouldnotunderstandtrigonometry。Whentheyweredeadtheylayontheirsides。Theircoatsdriedthen。Theywereonlydeadthings。

Theprefectwasthereagainanditwashisvoicethatwassayingthathewastogetup，thatFatherMinisterhadsaidhewastogetupanddressandgototheinfirmary。Andwhilehewasdressinghimselfasquicklyashecouldtheprefectsaid:——

WemustpackofftoBrotherMichaelbecausewehavethecollywobbles!

Hewasverydecenttosaythat。Thatwasalltomakehimlaugh。Buthecouldnotlaughbecausehischeeksandlipswereallshivery:andthentheprefecthadtolaughbyhimself。

Theprefectcried:——

Quickmarch!Hayfoot!Strawfoot!

Theywenttogetherdownthestaircaseandalongthecorridorandpastthebath。Ashepassedthedoorherememberedwithavaguefearthewarmturf-colouredbogwater，thewarmmoistair，thenoiseofplunges，thesmellofthetowels，likemedicine。

BrotherMichaelwasstandingatthedooroftheinfirmaryandfromthedoorofthedarkcabinetonhisrightcameasmelllikemedicine。Thatcamefromthebottlesontheshelves。TheprefectspoketoBrotherMichaelandBrotherMichaelansweredandcalledtheprefectsir。Hehadreddishhairmixedwithgreyandaqueerlook。Itwasqueerthathewouldalwaysbeabrother。Itwasqueertoothatyoucouldnotcallhimsirbecausehewasabrotherandhadadifferentkindoflook。Washenotholyenoughorwhycouldhenotcatchupontheothers？

Thereweretwobedsintheroomandinonebedtherewasafellow:andwhentheywentinhecalledout:——

Hello!It\'syoungDedalus!What\'sup？——

Theskyisup，BrotherMichaelsaid。

Hewasafellowoutofthethirdofgrammarand，whileStephenwasundressing，heaskedBrotherMichaeltobringhimaroundofbutteredtoast——

Ah，do!hesaid——

Butteryouup!saidBrotherMichael。You\'llgetyourwalkingpapersinthemorningwhenthedoctorcomes——

WillI？thefellowsaid。I\'mnotwellyet。

BrotherMichaelrepeated:——

You\'llgetyourwalkingpapers。Itellyou。

Hebentdowntorakethefire。Hehadalongbacklikethelongbackofatramhorse。Heshookthepokergravelyandnoddedhisheadatthefellowoutofthirdofgrammar。

ThenBrotherMichaelwentawayandafterawhilethefellowoutofthirdofgrammarturnedintowardsthewallandfellasleep。

Thatwastheinfirmary。Hewassickthen。Hadtheywrittenhometotellhismotherandfather？Butitwouldbequickerforoneoftheprieststogohimselftotellthem。Orhewouldwritealetterforthepriesttobring。DearMother，Iamsick。Iwanttogohome。Pleasecomeandtakemehome。Iamintheinfirmary。

Yourfondson，StephenHowfarawaytheywere!Therewascoldsunlightoutsidethewindow。Hewonderedifhewoulddie。Youcoulddiejustthesameonasunnyday。Hemightdiebeforehismothercame。ThenhewouldhaveadeadmassinthechapellikethewaythefellowshadtoldhimitwaswhenLittlehaddied。

Allthefellowswouldbeatthemass，dressedinblack，allwithsadfaces。

Wellstoowouldbetherebutnofellowwouldlookathim。Therectorwouldbethereinacopeofblackandgoldandtherewouldbetallyellowcandlesonthealtarandroundthecatafalque。Andtheywouldcarrythecoffinoutofthechapelslowlyandhewouldbeburiedinthelittlegraveyardofthecommunityoffthemainavenueoflimes。AndWellswouldbesorrythenforwhathehaddone。Andthebellwouldtollslowly。