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Narcissus Off Duty
Theygaveherasortofinnocentattentionandthebestsmilesmanyofthemhadsmiledforlong;therewerefewtearsinClara,butpeoplesmiledmisty-eyedather.
VeryoccasionallyAmorystayedforlittlehalf-hoursaftertherestofthecourthadgone,andtheywouldhavebreadandjamandtealateintheafternoonor"maple-sugarlunches,"asshecalledthem,atnight.
"Youareremarkable,aren’tyou!"Amorywasbecomingtritefromwhereheperchedinthecentreofthedining-roomtableonesixo’clock.
"Notabit,"sheanswered.Shewassearchingoutnapkinsinthesideboard."I’mreallymosthumdrumandcommonplace.Oneofthosepeoplewhohavenointerestinanythingbuttheirchildren."
"Tellthattosomebodyelse,"scoffedAmory."Youknowyou’reperfectlyeffulgent."Heaskedhertheonethingthatheknewmightembarrassher.ItwastheremarkthatthefirstboremadetoAdam.
"Tellmeaboutyourself."AndshegavetheanswerthatAdammusthavegiven.
"There’snothingtotell."
ButeventuallyAdamprobablytoldtheboreallthethingshethoughtaboutatnightwhenthelocustssanginthesandygrass,andhemusthaveremarkedpatronizinglyhowdifferenthewasfromEve,forgettinghowdifferentshewasfromhim...atanyrate,ClaratoldAmorymuchaboutherselfthatevening.Shehadhadaharriedlifefromsixteenon,andhereducationhadstoppedsharplywithherleisure.Browsinginherlibrary,Amoryfoundatatteredgraybookoutofwhichfellayellowsheetthatheimpudentlyopened.