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Amory, Son of Beatrice
So,whilemoreorlessfortunatelittlerichboysweredefyinggovernessesonthebeachatNewport,orbeingspankedortutoredorreadtofrom"DoandDare,"or"FrankontheMississippi,"Amorywasbitingacquiescentbell-boysintheWaldorf,outgrowinganaturalrepugnancetochambermusicandsymphonies,andderivingahighlyspecializededucationfromhismother.
"Amory."
"Yes,Beatrice."(Suchaquaintnameforhismother;sheencouragedit.)
"Dear,don’tthinkofgettingoutofbedyet.I’vealwayssuspectedthatearlyrisinginearlylifemakesonenervous.Clothildeishavingyourbreakfastbroughtup."
"Allright."
"Iamfeelingveryoldto-day,Amory,"shewouldsigh,herfaceararecameoofpathos,hervoiceexquisitelymodulated,herhandsasfacileasBernhardt’s."Mynervesareonedge—onedge.Wemustleavethisterrifyingplaceto-morrowandgosearchingforsunshine."
Amory’spenetratinggreeneyeswouldlookoutthroughtangledhairathismother.Evenatthisagehehadnoillusionsabouther.
"Amory."
"Oh,yes."
"Iwantyoutotakeared-hotbathashotasyoucanbearit,andjustrelaxyournerves.Youcanreadinthetubifyouwish."
Shefedhimsectionsofthe"FetesGalantes"beforehewasten;atelevenhecouldtalkglibly,ifratherreminiscently,ofBrahmsandMozartandBeethoven.Oneafternoon,whenleftaloneinthehotelatHotSprings,hesampledhismother’sapricotcordial,andasthetastepleasedhim,hebecamequitetipsy.