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Amory, Son of Beatrice
However,fourhoursoutfromland,Italybound,withBeatrice,hisappendixburst,probablyfromtoomanymealsinbed,andafteraseriesoffrantictelegramstoEuropeandAmerica,totheamazementofthepassengersthegreatshipslowlywheeledaroundandreturnedtoNewYorktodepositAmoryatthepier.Youwilladmitthatifitwasnotlifeitwasmagnificent.
AftertheoperationBeatricehadanervousbreakdownthatboreasuspiciousresemblancetodeliriumtremens,andAmorywasleftinMinneapolis,destinedtospendtheensuingtwoyearswithhisauntanduncle.Therethecrude,vulgarairofWesterncivilizationfirstcatcheshim—inhisunderwear,sotospeak.
AKISSFORAMORY
Hislipcurledwhenhereadit.
"Iamgoingtohaveabobbingparty,"itsaid,"onThursday,
Decembertheseventeenth,atfiveo’clock,andIwouldlikeitverymuchifyoucouldcome.
Yourstruly,
R.S.V.P.MyraSt.Claire.
HehadbeentwomonthsinMinneapolis,andhischiefstrugglehadbeentheconcealingfrom"theotherguysatschool"howparticularlysuperiorhefelthimselftobe,yetthisconvictionwasbuiltuponshiftingsands.HehadshownoffonedayinFrenchclass(hewasinseniorFrenchclass)totheutterconfusionofMr.Reardon,whoseaccentAmorydamnedcontemptuously,andtothedelightoftheclass.Mr.Reardon,whohadspentseveralweeksinParistenyearsbefore,tookhisrevengeontheverbs,wheneverhehadhisbookopen.