sun so he could see every atom she had on when he saw me from behind
following in the rain I saw him before he saw me however standing at the
corner of the Harolds cross road with a new raincoat on him with the muffler
in the Zingari colours to show off his complexion and the brown hat looking
slyboots as usual what was he doing there where hed no business they can go
and get whatever they like from anything at all with a skirt on it and were
not to ask any questions but they want to know where were you where
are you going I could feel him coming along skulking after me his eyes on
my neck he had been keeping away from the house he felt it was getting
too warm for him so I halfturned and stopped then he pestered me to
say yes till I took off my glove slowly watching him he said my openwork
sleeves were too cold for the rain anything for an excuse to put his hand
anear me drawers drawers the whole blessed time till I promised to give
him the pair off my doll to carry about in his waistcoat pocket O Maria
Santisima he did look a big fool dreeping in the rain splendid set of teeth he
had made me hungry to look at them and beseeched of me to lift the orange
petticoat I had on with sunray pleats that there was nobody he said hed kneel
down in the wet if I didnt so persevering he would too and ruin his new
raincoat you never know what freak theyd take alone with you theyre so savage
for it if anyone was passing so I lifted them a bit and touched his trousers
outside the way I used to Gardner after with my ring hand to keep him from
doing worse where it was too public I was dying to find out was he
circumcised he was shaking like a jelly all over they want to do everything
too quick take all the pleasure out if it and father waiting all the time
for his dinner he told me to say I left my purse in the butchers and had
to go back for it what a Deceiver then he wrote me that letter with all
those words in it how could he have the face to any woman after his
company manners making it so awkward after when we met asking me
have I offended you with my eyelids down of course he saw I wasnt he had
a few brains not like that other fool Henry Doyle he was always breaking
or tearing something in the charades I hate an unlucky man and if I knew
what it meant of course I had to say no for form sake dont understand you
I said and wasnt it natural so it is of course it used to be written up with a
picture of a womans on that wall in Gibraltar with that word I couldnt find
anywhere only for children seeing it too young then writing a letter every
morning sometimes twice a day I liked the way he made love then he knew the
way to take a woman when he sent me the 8 big poppies because mine
Page:Ulysses, 1922.djvu/701
698