Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript Project
Molloy

MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

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Segment 1

[2231] Next I attacked, according to my custom, the capital question of the
effects to take with me.
[2232] And on this subject too I should have come to a
quite otiose decision but for my son, who burst in wanting to know if
he might go out.
[2233] I controlled myself. [2234] He was wiping his mouth with the
back of his hand,
[2235] a thing I do not like to see. [2236] But there are uglier
gestures, I speak from experience.

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Segment 2

[2237] Out? I said. Where? [2238] Out! [2239] Vagueness I abhor. [2240] I was beginning to
feel hungry.
[2241] To the Elms, he replied. [2242] So we call our little public park.
[2243] And yet there is not an elm to be seen in it, I have been told. [2244] What for?
I said.
[2245] To go over my botany, he replied. [2246] There were times I suspected
my son of deceit.
[2247] This was one. [2248] I would almost have preferred him to say,
For a walk, or, To look at the tarts. The trouble was he knew far more
than I, about botany.

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Segment 3

[2249] Otherwise I could have set him a few teasers, on
his return.
[2250] Personally I just liked plants, in all innocence and simplic-
-ity.
[2251] I even saw in them at times a superfetatory proof of the existence
of God.
[2252] Go, I said, but be back at half-past four, I want to talk to you.
[2253] Yes papa, he said. [2254] Yes papa! [2255] Ah!

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Segment 4

[2256] I slept a little. [2257] Faster, faster. [2258] Passing the church, something
made me stop.
[2259] I looked at the door, baroque, very fine. [2260] I found it
hideous.
[2261] I hastened on to the presbytery. [2262] The Father is sleeping, said
the servant.
[2263] I can wait, I said. [2264] Is it urgent? she said. [2265] Yes and no,
I said.
[2266] She showed me into the sitting-room, bare and bleak, dreadful.
[2267] Father Ambrose came in, rubbing his eyes. [2268] I disturb you, Father, I said.

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Segment 5

[2269] He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, protestingly. [2270] I
shall not describe our attitudes, characteristic his of him, mine of me.
[2271] He offered me a cigar which I accepted with good grace and put in my
pocket, between my fountain-pen and my propelling-pencil.
[2272] He flattered
himself, Father Ambrose, with being a man of the world and knowing its ways

Transcription
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