The Boarding House Page #3

"The Boarding House" is a short story written by Irish author James Joyce, and is part of his collection called "Dubliners". It tells the story of Mrs. Mooney, who runs a boarding house, and her daughter Polly. When Polly engages in a love affair with a boarder, Mr. Doran, Mrs. Mooney manipulates the situation to ensure that Mr. Doran marries her daughter. The narrative delves into themes of love, deception, societal pressure, and the heavy burden of Victorian morality.

• Children

								

of the towel in the water-jug and refreshed her eyes with the cool
water. She looked at herself in profile and readjusted a hairpin above
her ear. Then she went back to the bed again and sat at the foot. She
regarded the pillows for a long time and the sight of them awakened in
her mind secret amiable memories. She rested the nape of her neck
against the cool iron bed-rail and fell into a revery. There was no
longer any perturbation visible on her face.

She waited on patiently, almost cheerfully, without alarm, her memories
gradually giving place to hopes and visions of the future. Her hopes
and visions were so intricate that she no longer saw the white pillows
on which her gaze was fixed or remembered that she was waiting for
anything.

At last she heard her mother calling. She started to her feet and ran
to the banisters.

“Polly! Polly!”

“Yes, mamma?”

“Come down, dear. Mr Doran wants to speak to you.”

Then she remembered what she had been waiting for.
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