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           Hehadrealizedthathisbestinterestswereboundupwiththoseofacertainvariant,changingperson,whoselabel,inorderthathispastmightalwaysbeidentifiedwithhim,wasAmoryBlaine.Amorymarkedhimselfafortunateyouth,capableofinfiniteexpansionforgoodorevil.Hedidnotconsiderhimselfa"strongchar’c’ter,"butreliedonhisfacility(learnthingssortaquick)andhissuperiormentality(readalottadeepbooks).Hewasproudofthefactthathecouldneverbecomeamechanicalorscientificgenius.Fromnootherheightswashedebarred.

           Physically.—Amorythoughtthathewasexceedinglyhandsome.Hewas.Hefanciedhimselfanathleteofpossibilitiesandasuppledancer.

           Socially.—Herehisconditionwas,perhaps,mostdangerous.Hegrantedhimselfpersonality,charm,magnetism,poise,thepowerofdominatingallcontemporarymales,thegiftoffascinatingallwomen.

           Mentally.—Complete,unquestionedsuperiority.

           Nowaconfessionwillhavetobemade.AmoryhadratheraPuritanconscience.Notthatheyieldedtoit—laterinlifehealmostcompletelyslewit—butatfifteenitmadehimconsiderhimselfagreatdealworsethanotherboys...unscrupulousness...thedesiretoinfluencepeopleinalmosteveryway,evenforevil...acertaincoldnessandlackofaffection,amountingsometimestocruelty...ashiftingsenseofhonor...anunholyselfishness...apuzzled,furtiveinterestineverythingconcerningsex.

           Therewas,also,acuriousstrainofweaknessrunningcrosswisethroughhismake-up...