Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           "I’mafreshman."

           "Surelyyou’rejoking."

           "Notatall."

           Theregistrarfrownedandglancedatacardbeforehim."Why,IhaveMr.BenjaminButton’sagedownhereaseighteen."

           "That’smyage,"assertedBenjamin,flushingslightly.

           Theregistrareyedhimwearily."Nowsurely,Mr.Button,youdon’texpectmetobelievethat."

           Benjaminsmiledwearily."Iameighteen,"herepeated.

           Theregistrarpointedsternlytothedoor."Getout,"hesaid."Getoutofcollegeandgetoutoftown.Youareadangerouslunatic."

           "Iameighteen."

           Mr.Hartopenedthedoor."Theidea!"heshouted."Amanofyouragetryingtoenterhereasafreshman.Eighteenyearsold,areyou?Well,I’llgiveyoueighteenminutestogetoutoftown."

           BenjaminButtonwalkedwithdignityfromtheroom,andhalfadozenundergraduates,whowerewaitinginthehall,followedhimcuriouslywiththeireyes.Whenhehadgonealittlewayheturnedaround,facedtheinfuriatedregistrar,whowasstillstandinginthedoor-way,andrepeatedinafirmvoice:"Iameighteenyearsold."

           Toachorusoftitterswhichwentupfromthegroupofundergraduates,Benjaminwalkedaway.