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Spires and Gargoyles
Itwasahalcyonday,andastheynearedtheshoreandthesaltbreezesscurriedby,hebegantopicturetheoceanandlong,levelstretchesofsandandredroofsoverbluesea.Thentheyhurriedthroughthelittletownanditallflasheduponhisconsciousnesstoamightypaeanofemotion....
"Oh,goodLord!Lookatit!"hecried.
"What?"
"Letmeout,quick—Ihaven’tseenitforeightyears!Oh,gentlefolk,stopthecar!"
"Whatanoddchild!"remarkedAlec.
"Idobelievehe’sabiteccentric."
Thecarwasobliginglydrawnupatacurb,andAmoryranfortheboardwalk.First,herealizedthattheseawasblueandthattherewasanenormousquantityofit,andthatitroaredandroared—reallyallthebanalitiesabouttheoceanthatonecouldrealize,butifanyonehadtoldhimthenthatthesethingswerebanalities,hewouldhavegapedinwonder.
"Nowwe’llgetlunch,"orderedKerry,wanderingupwiththecrowd."Comeon,Amory,tearyourselfawayandgetpractical."
"We’lltrythebesthotelfirst,"hewenton,"andthenceandsoforth."
Theystrolledalongtheboardwalktothemostimposinghostelryinsight,and,enteringthedining-room,scatteredaboutatable.
"EightBronxes,"commandedAlec,"andaclubsandwichandJuliennes.Thefoodforone.Handtherestaround."
Amoryatelittle,havingseizedachairwherehecouldwatchtheseaandfeeltherockofit.Whenluncheonwasovertheysatandsmokedquietly.
"What’sthebill?"
Someonescannedit.
"Eighttwenty-five."
"Rottenovercharge.
