Загадочная история Бенджамина Баттона

           Hisstudiesseemedhardertohim—hefeltthattheyweretooadvanced.HehadheardhisclassmatesspeakofSt.Midas’s,thefamouspreparatoryschool,atwhichsomanyofthemhadpreparedforcollege,andhedeterminedafterhisgraduationtoenterhimselfatSt.Midas’s,wheretheshelteredlifeamongboyshisownsizewouldbemorecongenialtohim.

           Uponhisgraduationin1914hewenthometoBaltimorewithhisHarvarddiplomainhispocket.HildegardewasnowresidinginItaly,soBenjaminwenttolivewithhisson,Roscoe.ButthoughhewaswelcomedinageneralwaytherewasobviouslynoheartinessinRoscoe’sfeelingtowardhim—therewasevenperceptibleatendencyonhisson’sparttothinkthatBenjamin,ashemopedaboutthehouseinadolescentmooniness,wassomewhatintheway.RoscoewasmarriednowandprominentinBaltimorelife,andhewantednoscandaltocreepoutinconnectionwithhisfamily.

           Benjamin,nolongerpersonagratawiththedébutantesandyoungercollegeset,foundhimselfleftmuchdone,exceptforthecompanionshipofthreeorfourfifteen-year-oldboysintheneighbourhood.HisideaofgoingtoSt.Midas’sschoolrecurredtohim.

           "Say,"hesaidtoRoscoeoneday,"I’vetoldyouoverandoverthatIwanttogotoprep,school."

           "Well,go,then,"repliedRoscoeshortly.Thematterwasdistastefultohim,andhewishedtoavoidadiscussion.

           "Ican’tgoalone,"saidBenjaminhelplessly."You’llhavetoentermeandtakemeupthere."

           "Ihaven’tgottime,"declaredRoscoeabruptly.Hiseyesnarrowedandhelookeduneasilyathisfather.