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           Shetriedtowalkalittleahead,shetriedtowalkalittlebehind—buttheystayedclose,thatthereshouldbenodoubtwhomshewaswith,talkinginloudvoicesoftheirfriendsonthefootballteam,untilshecouldalmosthearheracquaintanceswhispering:

           "PhyllisStylesmustbeawfullyharduptohavetocomewiththosetwo."

           ThathadbeenBurne,dynamicallyhumorous,fundamentallyserious.Fromthatroothadblossomedtheenergythathewasnowtryingtoorientwithprogress....

           SotheweekspassedandMarchcameandtheclayfeetthatAmorylookedforfailedtoappear.Aboutahundredjuniorsandseniorsresignedfromtheirclubsinafinalfuryofrighteousness,andtheclubsinhelplessnessturneduponBurnetheirfinestweapon:ridicule.Everyonewhoknewhimlikedhim—butwhathestoodfor(andhebegantostandformoreallthetime)cameunderthelashofmanytongues,untilafrailermanthanhewouldhavebeensnowedunder.

           "Don’tyoumindlosingprestige?"askedAmoryonenight.Theyhadtakentoexchangingcallsseveraltimesaweek.

           "OfcourseIdon’t.What’sprestige,atbest?"

           "Somepeoplesaythatyou’rejustaratheroriginalpolitician."

           Heroaredwithlaughter.

           "That’swhatFredSloanetoldmeto-day.IsupposeIhaveitcoming."

           OneafternoontheydippedintoasubjectthathadinterestedAmoryforalongtime—thematterofthebearingofphysicalattributesonaman’smake-up.