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Spires and Gargoyles
Movedtoaddresshisvis-a-vis,hesimulatedinterestinhisbookforamoment,andthenexclaimedaloudasifinvoluntarily:
"Ha!Greatstuff!"
TheotherfreshmanlookedupandAmoryregisteredartificialembarrassment.
"Areyoureferringtoyourbaconbuns?"Hiscracked,kindlyvoicewentwellwiththelargespectaclesandtheimpressionofavoluminouskeennessthathegave.
"No,"Amoryanswered."IwasreferringtoBernardShaw."Heturnedthebookaroundinexplanation.
"I’veneverreadanyShaw.I’vealwaysmeantto."Theboypausedandthencontinued:"DidyoueverreadStephenPhillips,ordoyoulikepoetry?"
"Yes,indeed,"Amoryaffirmedeagerly."I’veneverreadmuchofPhillips,though."(HehadneverheardofanyPhillipsexceptthelateDavidGraham.)
"It’sprettyfair,Ithink.Ofcoursehe’saVictorian."Theysalliedintoadiscussionofpoetry,inthecourseofwhichtheyintroducedthemselves,andAmory’scompanionprovedtobenoneotherthan"thatawfulhighbrow,ThomasParkeD’Invilliers,"whosignedthepassionatelove-poemsintheLit.Hewas,perhaps,nineteen,withstoopedshoulders,paleblueeyes,and,asAmorycouldtellfromhisgeneralappearance,withoutmuchconceptionofsocialcompetitionandsuchphenomenaofabsorbinginterest.Still,helikedbooks,anditseemedforeversinceAmoryhadmetanyonewhodid;ifonlythatSt.Paul’scrowdatthenexttablewouldnotmistakehimforabird,too,hewouldenjoytheencountertremendously.
