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Amory, Son of Beatrice
Heplayedfootballintensely,alternatingarecklessbrilliancywithatendencytokeephimselfassafefromhazardasdecencywouldpermit.Inawildpanichebackedoutofafightwithaboyhisownsize,toachorusofscorn,andaweeklater,indesperation,pickedabattlewithanotherboyverymuchbigger,fromwhichheemergedbadlybeaten,butratherproudofhimself.
Hewasresentfulagainstallthoseinauthorityoverhim,andthis,combinedwithalazyindifferencetowardhiswork,exasperatedeverymasterinschool.Hegrewdiscouragedandimaginedhimselfapariah;tooktosulkingincornersandreadingafterlights.Withadreadofbeingaloneheattachedafewfriends,butsincetheywerenotamongtheeliteoftheschool,heusedthemsimplyasmirrorsofhimself,audiencesbeforewhichhemightdothatposingabsolutelyessentialtohim.Hewasunbearablylonely,desperatelyunhappy.
Thereweresomefewgrainsofcomfort.WheneverAmorywassubmerged,hisvanitywasthelastparttogobelowthesurface,sohecouldstillenjoyacomfortableglowwhen"Wookey-wookey,"thedeafoldhousekeeper,toldhimthathewasthebest-lookingboyshehadeverseen.Ithadpleasedhimtobethelightestandyoungestmanonthefirstfootballsquad;itpleasedhimwhenDoctorDougalltoldhimattheendofaheatedconferencethathecould,ifhewished,getthebestmarksinschool.ButDoctorDougallwaswrong.ItwastemperamentallyimpossibleforAmorytogetthebestmarksinschool.
