Page 870 - ULYSSES

Ulysses

BLOOM: (Bitterly) Man and woman, love, what is it?
A cork and bottle. I’m sick of it. Let everything rip.
ZOE: (In sudden sulks) I hate a rotter that’s insincere.

Give a bleeding whore a chance.
BLOOM: (Repentantly) I am very disagreeable. You are
a necessary evil. Where are you from? London?
ZOE: (Glibly) Hog’s Norton where the pigs plays the
organs. I’m Yorkshire born. (She holds his hand which is
feeling for her nipple) I say, Tommy Tittlemouse. Stop that
and begin worse. Have you cash for a short time? Ten
shillings?
BLOOM: (Smiles, nods slowly) More, houri, more.
ZOE: And more’s mother? (She pats him offhandedly
with velvet paws) Are you coming into the musicroom to
see our new pianola? Come and I’ll peel off.
BLOOM: (Feeling his occiput dubiously with the
unparalleled embarrassment of a harassed pedlar gauging the
symmetry of her peeled pears) Somebody would be dreadfully
jealous if she knew. The greeneyed monster. (Earnestly)
You know how difficult it is. I needn’t tell you.
ZOE: (Flattered) What the eye can’t see the heart can’t
grieve for. (She pats him) Come.
BLOOM: Laughing witch! The hand that rocks the
cradle.

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