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Spires and Gargoyles
NextdaytheyrodeupthroughtheJerseycountry,hadluncheoninNewYork,andintheafternoonwenttoseeaproblemplayatwhichIsabelleweptallthroughthesecondact,rathertoAmory’sembarrassment—thoughitfilledhimwithtendernesstowatchher.Hewastemptedtoleanoverandkissawayhertears,andsheslippedherhandintohisundercoverofdarknesstobepressedsoftly.
ThenatsixtheyarrivedattheBorges’summerplaceonLongIsland,andAmoryrushedup-stairstochangeintoadinnercoat.Asheputinhisstudsherealizedthathewasenjoyinglifeashewouldprobablyneverenjoyitagain.Everythingwashallowedbythehazeofhisownyouth.Hehadarrived,abreastofthebestinhisgenerationatPrinceton.Hewasinloveandhislovewasreturned.Turningonallthelights,helookedathimselfinthemirror,tryingtofindinhisownfacethequalitiesthatmadehimseeclearerthanthegreatcrowdofpeople,thatmadehimdecidefirmly,andabletoinfluenceandfollowhisownwill.Therewaslittleinhislifenowthathewouldhavechanged....Oxfordmighthavebeenabiggerfield.
Silentlyheadmiredhimself.Howconvenientlywellhelooked,andhowwelladinnercoatbecamehim.Hesteppedintothehallandthenwaitedatthetopofthestairs,forheheardfootstepscoming.ItwasIsabelle,andfromthetopofhershininghairtoherlittlegoldenslippersshehadneverseemedsobeautiful.
"Isabelle!"hecried,halfinvoluntarily,andheldouthisarms