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Experiments in Convalescence
Thereseemedsuddenlytobemuchleftinlife,ifonlythisrevivalofoldinterestsdidnotmeanthathewasbackingawayfromitagain—backingawayfromlifeitself.
RESTLESSNESS
"I’mtresoldandtresbored,Tom,"saidAmoryoneday,stretchinghimselfateaseinthecomfortablewindow-seat.Healwaysfeltmostnaturalinarecumbentposition.
"Youusedtobeentertainingbeforeyoustartedtowrite,"hecontinued."Nowyousaveanyideathatyouthinkwoulddotoprint."
Existencehadsettledbacktoanambitionlessnormality.Theyhaddecidedthatwitheconomytheycouldstillaffordtheapartment,whichTom,withthedomesticityofanelderlycat,hadgrownfondof.TheoldEnglishhuntingprintsonthewallwereTom’s,andthelargetapestrybycourtesy,arelicofdecadentdaysincollege,andthegreatprofusionoforphanedcandlesticksandthecarvedLouisXVchairinwhichnoonecouldsitmorethanaminutewithoutacutespinaldisorders—TomclaimedthatthiswasbecauseonewassittinginthelapofMontespan’swraith—atanyrate,itwasTom’sfurniturethatdecidedthemtostay.
Theywentoutverylittle:toanoccasionalplay,ortodinnerattheRitzorthePrincetonClub.
