Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript Project
Molloy

MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

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Segment 1

[3218] before I forget. [3219] Two holes were bored in the brim, one on either side of
course, I had bored them myself, with my little gimlet.
[3220] And in these holes
I had secured the ends of an elastic long enough to pass under my chin,
under my jaws rather, but not too long, for it had to sit firmly [place = supralinear] hold fast, under my
jaws rather.
[3221] In this way, however great my exertions, my boater stayed in
its place, which was on my head.
[3222] Shame on you, I cried, you ill-bred
little pig!

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Segment 2

[3223] I would get angry if I were not careful. [3224] And anger is a
luxury I cannot afford.
[3225] For then I go blind, blood veils my eyes and I
hear what the great Gustave heard, the benches creaking in the court of
assizes.
[3226] Oh it's [place = supralinear] it is not without scathe that one is gentle, courteous,
reasonalb, [place = overwritten] ble, patient, day after day, year after year.
[3227] I threw down my
umbrella and ran from the room.
[3228] On the stairs I met Martha coming up,
capless, dishevelled, her clothes in disorder.
[3229] What's going on? she cried.

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Segment 3

[3230] I looked at her. [3231] She went back to her kitchen. [3232] Trembling I hastened to
the shed, seized my axe, went into the yard and began hacking madly at an
old chopping-block that lay there and on which in winter, tranquilly, I
split my logs.
[3233] Finally the blade sank into it so deeply that I could not
get it out.
[3234] The efforts I made to do so brought me, with exhaustion, calm.
[3235] I went upstairs again. [3236] My son was getting dressed [place = supralinear] dressing. He was crying.

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Segment 4

[3237] Everybody was crying. [3238] I helped him put on his knapsack. [3239] I told him not
to forget his raincoat.
[3240] He began to put it in his knapsack. [3241] I told him
to keep [place = supralinear] carry it over his arm, for the moment.
[3242] It was nearly midnight. [3243] I
picked up my umbrella.
[3244] Intact. [3245] Get on, I said. [3246] He went out of the room
which I paused for a moment to survey, before I followed him.
[3247] It was in
a shambles.
[3248] The night was fine, in my humble opinion.

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Segment 5

[3249] Scents filled the
air.
[3250] The gravel crunched under our feet. [3251] No, I said, this way. [3252] I entered
the little wood.
[3253] My son floundered behind me, bumping into the trees. [3254] He
did not know how to find his way in the dark.
[3255] He was still young, the words
of reproach died on my lips.
[3256] I stopped. [3257] Take my hand, I said. [3258] I might

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