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Young Irony
Hefeltthateverymomentwasprecious.Hehadnevermetagirllikethisbefore—shewouldneverseemquitethesameagain.Hedidn’tatallfeellikeacharacterinaplay,theappropriatefeelinginanunconventionalsituation—instead,hehadasenseofcominghome.
"Ihavejustmadeagreatdecision,"saidEleanorafteranotherpause,"andthatiswhyI’mhere,toansweranotherofyourquestions.IhavejustdecidedthatIdon’tbelieveinimmortality."
"Really!howbanal!"
"Frightfullyso,"sheanswered,"butdepressingwithastale,sicklydepression,nevertheless.Icameoutheretogetwet—likeawethen;wethensalwayshavegreatclarityofmind,"sheconcluded.
"Goon,"Amorysaidpolitely.
"Well—I’mnotafraidofthedark,soIputonmyslickerandrubberbootsandcameout.YouseeIwasalwaysafraid,before,tosayIdidn’tbelieveinGod—becausethelightningmightstrikeme—buthereIamandithasn’t,ofcourse,butthemainpointisthatthistimeIwasn’tanymoreafraidofitthanIhadbeenwhenIwasaChristianScientist,likeIwaslastyear.SonowIknowI’mamaterialistandIwasfraternizingwiththehaywhenyoucameoutandstoodbythewoods,scaredtodeath."
"Why,youlittlewretch—"criedAmoryindignantly."Scaredofwhat?"
"Yourself!"sheshouted,andhejumped.Sheclappedherhandsandlaughed."See—see!Conscience—killitlikeme!EleanorSavage,materiologist—nojumping,nostarting,comeearly—"
"ButIhavetohaveasoul,"heobjected.