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           ButBeatricegrewmoreandmorepronetolikeonlynewacquaintances,astherewerecertainstories,suchasthehistoryofherconstitutionanditsmanyamendments,memoriesofheryearsabroad,thatitwasnecessaryforhertorepeatatregularintervals.LikeFreudiandreams,theymustbethrownoff,elsetheywouldsweepinandlaysiegetohernerves.ButBeatricewascriticalaboutAmericanwomen,especiallythefloatingpopulationofex-Westerners.

           "Theyhaveaccents,mydear,"shetoldAmory,"notSouthernaccentsorBostonaccents,notanaccentattachedtoanylocality,justanaccent"—shebecamedreamy."Theypickupold,moth-eatenLondonaccentsthataredownontheirluckandhavetobeusedbysomeone.TheytalkasanEnglishbutlermightafterseveralyearsinaChicagogrand-operacompany."Shebecamealmostincoherent—"Suppose—timeineveryWesternwoman’slife—shefeelsherhusbandisprosperousenoughforhertohave—accent—theytrytoimpressme,mydear—"

           Thoughshethoughtofherbodyasamassoffrailties,sheconsideredhersoulquiteasill,andthereforeimportantinherlife.ShehadoncebeenaCatholic,butdiscoveringthatpriestswereinfinitelymoreattentivewhenshewasinprocessoflosingorregainingfaithinMotherChurch,shemaintainedanenchantinglywaveringattitude.OftenshedeploredthebourgeoisqualityoftheAmericanCatholicclergy,andwasquitesurethathadshelivedintheshadowofthegreatContinentalcathedralshersoulwouldstillbeathinflameonthemightyaltarofRome.