This Side of Paradise

A LITTLE LULL

Four days after that he returned at last to the apartment. Tom was engaged on a book review for The New Democracy on the staff of which he was employed. They regarded each other for a moment in silence.

Well?

Well?

Good Lord, Amory, where'd you get the black eye–and the jaw?

Amory laughed.

That's a mere nothing.

He peeled off his coat and bared his shoulders.

Look here!

Tom emitted a low whistle.

What hit you?

Amory laughed again.

Oh, a lot of people. I got beaten up. Fact. He slowly replaced his shirt. It was bound to come sooner or later and I wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Who was it?

Well, there were some waiters and a couple of sailors and a few stray pedestrians, I guess. It's the strangest feeling. You ought to get beaten up just for the experience of it. You fall down after a while and everybody sort of slashes in at you before you hit the ground–then they kick you.

Tom lighted a cigarette.

I spent a day chasing you all over town, Amory. But you always kept a little ahead of me. I'd say you've been on some party.

Amory tumbled into a chair and asked for a cigarette.

You sober now? asked Tom quizzically.

Pretty sober. Why?

Well, Alec has left. His family had been after him to go home and live, so he–

A spasm of pain shook Amory.

Too bad.

Yes, it is too bad. We'll have to get some one else if we're going to stay here. The rent's going up.

Sure. Get anybody. I'll leave it to you, Tom.

Amory walked into his bedroom. The first thing that met his glance was a photograph of Rosalind that he had intended to have framed, propped up a…