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The Supercilious Sacrifice
WhentheyreachedanunfrequentedsidestreetAlecstoppedthecaramongdeepshadows.
"Whatyoudoingdownherethesecolddays,Amory?"hedemanded,asheproducedaquartofBourbonfromunderthefurrug.
Amoryavoidedthequestion.Indeed,hehadhadnodefinitereasonforcomingtothecoast.
"Doyourememberthatpartyofours,sophomoreyear?"heaskedinstead.
"DoI?WhenwesleptinthepavilionsupinAsburyPark—"
"Lord,Alec!It’shardtothinkthatJesseandDickandKerryareallthreedead."
Alecshivered.
"Don’ttalkaboutit.Thesedrearyfalldaysdepressmeenough."
Jillseemedtoagree.
"Doughereissortagloomyanyways,"shecommented."Tellhimtodrinkdeep—it’sgoodandscarcethesedays."
"WhatIreallywanttoaskyou,Amory,iswhereyouare—"
"Why,NewYork,Isuppose—"
"Imeanto-night,becauseifyouhaven’tgotaroomyetyou’dbetterhelpmeout."
"Gladto."
"Yousee,TullyandIhavetworoomswithbathbetweenattheRanier,andhe’sgottogobacktoNewYork.Idon’twanttohavetomove.Questionis,willyouoccupyoneoftherooms?"
Amorywaswilling,ifhecouldgetinrightaway.
"You’llfindthekeyintheoffice;theroomsareinmyname."
Decliningfurtherlocomotionorfurtherstimulation,Amoryleftthecarandsaunteredbackalongtheboardwalktothehotel.
Hewasinaneddyagain,adeep,lethargicgulf,withoutdesiretoworkorwrite,loveordissipate.