He glanced sideways at Stephen with a strange smile and said:

-Do you consider that poetry? Or do you know what the words mean?

-I want to see Rosie first, said Stephen.

-She’s easy to find, Cranly said.

His hat had come down on his forehead. He shoved it back: and in the shadow of the trees Stephen saw his pale face, framed by the dark, and his large dark eyes. Yes. His face was handsome: and his body was strong and hard. He had spoken of a mother’s love. He felt then the sufferings of women, the weaknesses of their bodies and souls: and would shield them with a strong and resolute arm and bow his mind to them.

Away then: it is time to go. A voice spoke softly to Stephen’s lonely heart, bid-ding him go and telling him that his friendship was coming to an end. Yes; he would go. He could not strive against another. He knew his part.

-Probably I shall go away, he said.

-Where? Cranly asked.

-Where I can, Stephen said.

-Yes, Cranly said. It might be difficult for you to live here now. But is it that that makes you go?

-I have to go, Stephen answered.

-Because, Cranly continued, you need not look upon yourself as driven away if you do not wish to go or as a heretic or an outlaw. There are many good believers who think as you do. Would that surprise you? The church is not the stone building nor even the clergy and their dogmas. It is the whole mass of those born into it. I don’t know what you wish to do in life. Is it what you told me the night we were standing outside Harcourt Street station?

-Yes, Stephen said, smiling in spite of himself at Cranly’s way of remembering thoughts in connection with places. The night you spent half an hour wrangling with Doherty about the shortest way from Sallygap to Larras.

-Pothead! Cranly said with calm contempt. What does he know about the way from Sallygap to Larras? Or what does he know about anything for that matter? And the big slobbering washingpot head of him!

He broke out into a loud long laugh.

-Well? Stephen said. Do you remember the rest?

-What you said, is it? Cranly asked. Yes, I remember it. To discover the mode of life or of art whereby your spirit could express itself in unfettered freedom.

Stephen raised his hat in acknowledgment.

-Freedom! Cranly repeated. But you are not free enough yet to commit a sacrilege. Tell me, would you rob?

-I would beg first, Stephen said.

-And if you got nothing, would you rob?