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Amory, Son of Beatrice
Myrapicturedanall-nighttobaccodebauch,withAmorypaleandreelingfromtheeffectofnicotinedlungs.Shegavealittlegasp.
"Oh,Amory,don’tsmoke.You’llstuntyourgrowth!"
"Idon’tcare,"hepersistedgloomily."Igotta.Igotthehabit.I’vedonealotofthingsthatifmyfamblyknew"—hehesitated,givingherimaginationtimetopicturedarkhorrors—"Iwenttotheburlesqueshowlastweek."
Myrawasquiteovercome.Heturnedthegreeneyesonheragain."You’retheonlygirlintownIlikemuch,"heexclaimedinarushofsentiment."You’resimpatico."
Myrawasnotsurethatshewas,butitsoundedstylishthoughvaguelyimproper.
Thickduskhaddescendedoutside,andasthelimousinemadeasuddenturnshewasjoltedagainsthim;theirhandstouched.
"Youshouldn’tsmoke,Amory,"shewhispered."Don’tyouknowthat?"
Heshookhishead.
"Nobodycares."
Myrahesitated.
"Icare."
SomethingstirredwithinAmory.
"Oh,yes,youdo!YougotacrushonFroggyParker.Iguesseverybodyknowsthat."
"No,Ihaven’t,"veryslowly.
Asilence,whileAmorythrilled.TherewassomethingfascinatingaboutMyra,shutawayherecosilyfromthedim,chillair.Myra,alittlebundleofclothes,withstrandsofyellowhaircurlingoutfromunderherskatingcap.
"BecauseI’vegotacrush,too—"Hepaused,forheheardinthedistancethesoundofyounglaughter,and,peeringthroughthefrostedglassalongthelamp-litstreet,hemadeoutthedarkoutlineofthebobbingparty.Hemustactquickly.