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Amory, Son of Beatrice
Theplaywas"TheLittleMillionaire,"withGeorgeM.Cohan,andtherewasonestunningyoungbrunettewhomadehimsitwithbrimmingeyesintheecstasyofwatchingherdance.
"Oh—you—wonderfulgirl,
Whatawonderfulgirlyouare—"
sangthetenor,andAmoryagreedsilently,butpassionately.
"All—your—wonderfulwords
Thrillmethrough—"
Theviolinsswelledandquaveredonthelastnotes,thegirlsanktoacrumpledbutterflyonthestage,agreatburstofclappingfilledthehouse.Oh,tofallinlovelikethat,tothelanguorousmagicmelodyofsuchatune!
Thelastscenewaslaidonaroof-garden,andthe’cellossighedtothemusicalmoon,whilelightadventureandfacilefroth-likecomedyflittedbackandforthinthecalcium.Amorywasonfiretobeanhabituiofroof-gardens,tomeetagirlwhoshouldlooklikethat—better,thatverygirl;whosehairwouldbedrenchedwithgoldenmoonlight,whileathiselbowsparklingwinewaspouredbyanunintelligiblewaiter.Whenthecurtainfellforthelasttimehegavesuchalongsighthatthepeopleinfrontofhimtwistedaroundandstaredandsaidloudenoughforhimtohear:
"Whataremarkable-lookingboy!"
Thistookhismindofftheplay,andhewonderedifhereallydidseemhandsometothepopulationofNewYork.
Paskertandhewalkedinsilencetowardtheirhotel.Theformerwasthefirsttospeak.Hisuncertainfifteen-year-oldvoicebrokeininamelancholystrainonAmory’smusings:
"I’dmarrythatgirlto-night."
Therewasnoneedtoaskwhatgirlhereferredto.