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The Egotist Considers
Thecar,asmoker,washotandstuffywithmostofthesmellsofthestate’salienpopulation;heopenedawindowandshiveredagainstthecloudoffogthatdriftedinoverhim.Thetwohours’ridewerelikedays,andhenearlycriedaloudwithjoywhenthetowersofPrincetonloomedupbesidehimandtheyellowsquaresoflightfilteredthroughthebluerain.
Tomwasstandinginthecentreoftheroom,pensivelyrelightingacigar-stub.Amoryfanciedhelookedratherrelievedonseeinghim.
"Hadahellofadreamaboutyoulastnight,"cameinthecrackedvoicethroughthecigarsmoke."Ihadanideayouwereinsometrouble."
"Don’ttellmeaboutit!"Amoryalmostshrieked."Don’tsayaword;I’mtiredandpeppedout."
TomlookedathimqueerlyandthensankintoachairandopenedhisItaliannote-book.Amorythrewhiscoatandhatonthefloor,loosenedhiscollar,andtookaWellsnovelatrandomfromtheshelf."Wellsissane,"hethought,"andifhewon’tdoI’llreadRupertBrooke."
Halfanhourpassed.Outsidethewindcameup,andAmorystartedasthewetbranchesmovedandclawedwiththeirfinger-nailsatthewindow-pane.Tomwasdeepinhiswork,andinsidetheroomonlytheoccasionalscratchofamatchortherustleofleatherastheyshiftedintheirchairsbrokethestillness.Thenlikeazigzagoflightningcamethechange.Amorysatboltupright,frozencoldinhischair.Tomwaslookingathimwithhismouthdrooping,eyesfixed.
"Godhelpus!"Amorycried
