The Annotated "Ulysses"/Page 015

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638735The Annotated "Ulysses"Page 015James Joyce

No, thank you, sir, the old woman said, slipping the ring of the
milkcan on her forearm and about to go.

Haines said to her:

Have you your bill? We had better pay her, Mulligan, hadn’t we?

Stephen filled the three cups.

Bill, sir? she said, halting. Well, it’s seven mornings a pint at two
pence is seven twos is a shilling and twopence over and these three mornings a
quart at fourpence is three quarts is a shilling and one and two is two and two, sir.

Buck Mulligan sighed and having filled his mouth with a crust thickly
buttered on both sides, stretched forth his legs and began to search his trouser
pockets.

Pay up and look pleasant, Haines said to him smiling.

Stephen filled a third cup, a spoonful of tea colouring faintly the thick
rich milk. Buck Mulligan brought up a florin, twisted it round in his fingers
and cried:

A miracle!

He passed it along the table towards the old woman, saying:

Ask nothing more of me, sweet. All I can give you I give.

Stephen laid the coin in her uneager hand.

We’ll owe twopence, he said.

Time enough, sir, she said, taking the coin. Time enough. Good
morning, sir.

She curtseyed and went out, followed by Buck Mulligan’s tender chant:

Heart of my heart, were it more,

 More would be laid at your feet.

He turned to Stephen and said:

Seriously, Dedalus. I’m stony. Hurry out to your school kip and bring
us back some money. Today the bards must drink and junket. Ireland expects
that every man this day will do his duty.

That reminds me, Haines said, rising, that I have to visit your
national library today.

Our swim first, Buck Mulligan said.

He turned to Stephen and asked blandly:

Is this the day for your monthly wash, Kinch?

Then he said to Haines:

The unclean bard makes a point of washing once a month.

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