Stephen moves away from the noise of the powerhouse and looks at a boxing poster on Bedford Row. He stops at the book cart and searches through to try and find any of his school prizes pawned by the family. Dilly his sister approaches him as he is absorbed in reading an evocation by a blessed Abbott. She asks him what he is doing and Stephen thinks of their intimate chats late at night about Paris and her little bracelet, a present from Dan Kelly. She has bought a book to learn French and feels a little exposed but Stephen tries to act as though it is a normal purchase. Stephan holds back from the fondness and intimacy aware that to make a bold strike with his own life will be impossible if he gets swallowed by the poverty and misery of his family.