Chapter 3

           EvenafterthenewadditiontotheButtonfamilyhadhadhishaircutshortandthendyedtoasparseunnaturalblack,hadhadhisfaceshavedsodosethatitglistened,andhadbeenattiredinsmall-boyclothesmadetoorderbyaflabbergastedtailor,itwasimpossibleforButtontoignorethefactthathissonwasaexcuseforafirstfamilybaby.Despitehisagedstoop,BenjaminButton—foritwasbythisnametheycalledhiminsteadofbytheappropriatebutinvidiousMethuselah—wasfivefeeteightinchestall.Hisclothesdidnotconcealthis,nordidtheclippinganddyeingofhiseyebrowsdisguisethefactthattheeyesunder—werefadedandwateryandtired.Infact,thebaby-nursewhohadbeenengagedinadvanceleftthehouseafteronelook,inastateofconsiderableindignation.

           ButMr.Buttonpersistedinhisunwaveringpurpose.Benjaminwasababy,andababyheshouldremain.AtfirsthedeclaredthatifBenjamindidn’tlikewarmmilkhecouldgowithoutfoodaltogether,buthewasfinallyprevailedupontoallowhissonbreadandbutter,andevenoatmealbywayofacompromise.Onedayhebroughthomearattleand,givingittoBenjamin,insistedinnouncertaintermsthatheshould"playwithit,"whereupontheoldmantookitwith—awearyexpressionandcouldbeheardjinglingitobedientlyatintervalsthroughouttheday.

           Therecanbenodoubt,though,thattherattleboredhim,andthathefoundotherandmoresoothingamusementswhenhewasleftalone.Forinstance,Mr.Buttondiscoveredonedaythatduringtheprecedingweekbehadsmokedmorecigarsthaneverbefore—aphenomenon,whichwasexplainedafewdayslaterwhen,enteringthenurseryunexpectedly,hefoundtheroomfulloffaintbluehazeandBenjamin,withaguiltyexpressiononhisface,tryingtoconcealthebuttofadarkHavana.