filledupbytheproducingandlightingofacigar;havingplacedittohislipsandbreathedatrailofHavannahincenseonthefreezingandsunlessair,hewenton-&39;Ilikedbonbonstoointhosedays,MissEyre,andIwascroquant-(overlookthebarbarism)-croquantchocolatecomfits,andsmokingalternately,watchingmeantimetheequipagesthatrolledalongthefashionablestreetstowardstheneighbouringopera-house,wheninanelegantclosecarriagedrawnbyabeautifulpairofEnglishhorses,anddistinctlyseeninthebrilliantcity-night,Irecognisedthe"voiture"IhadgivenCeline.Shewasreturning:ofcoursemyheartthumpedwithimpatienceagainsttheironrailsIleantupon.Thecarriagestopped,asIhadexpected,atthehoteldoor;myflame(thatistheverywordforanoperainamorata)alighted:thoughmuffledinacloak-anunnecessaryencumbrance,bythebyeTheyouthremainedawholeyearwiththethirdmasteralso,andwhenhomeagain,andhisfatherinquired,"Myson,whathastthoulearnt?heAtelevenhehadahorrorofdeath.Withinsiximpressionableyearshisparentshaddiedandhisgrandmotherhadfadedoffalmostimperceptibly,until,forthefirsttimesincehermarriage,herpersonheldforonedayanunquestionedsupremacyoverherowndrawingroom.SotoAnthonylifewasastruggleagainstdeath,thatwaitedateverycorner.Itwasasaconcessiontohishypochondriacalimaginationthatheformedthehabitofreadinginbed--itsoothedhim.Hereaduntilhewastiredandoftenfellasleepwiththelightsstillon.Hisfavoritediversionuntilhewasfourteenwashisstampcollection;enormous,asnearlyexhaustiveasaboy&39;scouldbe--hisgrandfatherconsideredfatuouslythatitwasteachinghimgeography.SoAnthonykeptupacorrespondencewithahalfdozen"StampandCoin"companiesanditwasrarethatthemailfailedtobringhimnewstamp-booksorpackagesofglitteringapprovalsheets--therewasamysteriousfascinationintransferringhisacquisitionsinterminablyfromonebooktoanother.Hisstampswerehisgreatesthappinessandhebestowedimpatientfrownsonanyonewhointerruptedhimatplaywiththem;theydevouredhisallowanceeverymonth,andhelayawakeatnightmusinguntiringlyontheirvarietyandmany-coloredsplendor.
