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Amory, Son of Beatrice
ShelearnedinEnglandtopreferwhiskeyandsodatowine,andhersmalltalkwasbroadenedintwosensesduringawinterinVienna.AllinallBeatriceO’Haraabsorbedthesortofeducationthatwillbequiteimpossibleeveragain;atutelagemeasuredbythenumberofthingsandpeopleonecouldbecontemptuousofandcharmingabout;aculturerichinallartsandtraditions,barrenofallideas,inthelastofthosedayswhenthegreatgardenerclippedtheinferiorrosestoproduceoneperfectbud.
InherlessimportantmomentsshereturnedtoAmerica,metStephenBlaineandmarriedhim—thisalmostentirelybecauseshewasalittlebitweary,alittlebitsad.Heronlychildwascarriedthroughatiresomeseasonandbroughtintotheworldonaspringdayinninety-six.
WhenAmorywasfivehewasalreadyadelightfulcompanionforher.Hewasanauburn-hairedboy,withgreat,handsomeeyeswhichhewouldgrowuptointime,afacileimaginativemindandatasteforfancydress.Fromhisfourthtohistenthyearhedidthecountrywithhismotherinherfather’sprivatecar,fromCoronado,wherehismotherbecamesoboredthatshehadanervousbreakdowninafashionablehotel,downtoMexicoCity,whereshetookamild,almostepidemicconsumption.Thistroublepleasedher,andlatershemadeuseofitasanintrinsicpartofheratmosphere—especiallyafterseveralastoundingbracers.
