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Narcissus Off Duty
Sonowild-hairedwomanwithahungrybabyatherbreastandasadAmelia-likelookgreetedhim.Instead,Amorywouldhavethoughtfromhisreceptionthatshehadnotacareintheworld.
Acalmvirilityandadreamyhumor,markedcontraststoherlevel-headedness—intothesemoodssheslippedsometimesasarefuge.Shecoulddothemostprosythings(thoughshewaswiseenoughnevertostultifyherselfwithsuch"householdarts"asknittingandembroidery),yetimmediatelyafterwardpickupabookandletherimaginationroveasaformlesscloudwiththewind.Deepestofallinherpersonalitywasthegoldenradiancethatshediffusedaroundher.Asanopenfireinadarkroomthrowsromanceandpathosintothequietfacesatitsedge,soshecastherlightsandshadowsaroundtheroomsthatheldher,untilshemadeofherprosyolduncleamanofquaintandmeditativecharm,metamorphosedthestraytelegraphboyintoaPuck-likecreatureofdelightfuloriginality.AtfirstthisqualityofherssomehowirritatedAmory.Heconsideredhisownuniquenesssufficient,anditratherembarrassedhimwhenshetriedtoreadnewinterestsintohimforthebenefitofwhatotheradorerswerepresent.Hefeltasifapolitebutinsistentstage-managerwereattemptingtomakehimgiveanewinterpretationofaparthehadconnedforyears.
ButClaratalking,Claratellingaslendertaleofahatpinandaninebriatedmanandherself....Peopletriedafterwardtorepeatheranecdotesbutforthelifeofthemtheycouldmakethemsoundlikenothingwhatever.
