Gender Readings. Top Ten. Ренц Т.Г - 87 стр.

      “Derevaun Seraun! Derevaun Seraun!”
      She stood up in a sudden impulse of terror. Escape! She must
escape! Frank would save her. He would give her life, perhaps love,
too. But she wanted to live. Why should she be unhappy? She had a
right to happiness. Frank would take her in his arms, fold her in his
arms. He would save her.
      ¾
      She stood among the swaying crowd in the station at the North
Wall. He held her hand and she knew that he was speaking to her,
saying something about the passage over and over again. The station
was full of soldiers with brown baggages.
      Through the wide doors of the sheds she caught a glimpse of the
black mass of the boat, lying beside the quay wall, with lighted port-
holes. She answered nothing. She felt her cheek pale and cold and, out
of a confusion of pain, she prayed to God to direct her, to show her
what was her duty. The boat blew a long mournful whistle into the mist.
If she went, to-morrow she would be on the sea with Frank, steaming
towards Buenos Ayres. Their passage had been booked. Could she still
draw back after all he had done for her? Her pain awoke a nausea in
her body and she kept moving her li ps in silent fervent prayer.
      A bell clanged upon her heart. She felt him seize her hand:
      “Come!”
      All the seas of the world tumbled about her heart. He was draw-
ing her into them: he would drown her.She gri pped with both hands
at the iron railing.
      “Come!”
      No! No! No! It was impossible. Her hands clutched the iron in
madness. Amid the seas she sent a cry of anguish.
      “Eveline! Evvy!”
      He rushed beyond the barrier and called to her to follow. He
was shouted at to go on, but he still called to her. She set her white
face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. Her eyes gave him no sign
of love or farewell or recognition.

THE AUTHOR
      James Joyce (1882—1941) was born in Dublin, now the capital
of the Irish Republic, but spent most of his grown-up life in France
and other Continental countries. His work has had a great influence
on many modern English writers. Eveline is taken from an early book
                                – 87 –