Booth Tarkington

Name: Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II
Author: Booth Tarkington

Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II (1916)

Summary

“Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II”, published in 1916, is a work by Booth Tarkington. It explores elements such as William Sylvanus Baxter, Joe Bullitt and dog.

Quotes from Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II (Booth Tarkington)

Booth Tarkington, Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II (1916)

“ Beneath this gentle glow, with eyes downcast in thought, she apparently took no note of William, even when she and William had come within a few yards of each other. Yet he knew that she would look up and that their eyes must meet—a thing for which he endeavored to prepare himself by a strange weaving motion of his neck against the friction of his collar—for thus, instinctively, he strove to obtain greater ease and some decent appearance of manly indifference. He felt that his efforts were a failure; that his agitation was ruinous and must be perceptible at a distance of miles, not feet. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Booth Tarkington, Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II (1916)

“ William rested an elbow upon the gate-post, and with his chin reposing in his hand gazed long in the direction in which the unknown had vanished. And his soul was tremulous, for she had done her work but too well.
"'Indifferink'!" he murmured, thrilling at his own exceedingly indifferent imitation of her voice. "Indifferink!" that was just what he would have her think—that he was a cold, indifferent man. It was what he wished all girls to think. And "sarcastic"! He had been envious one day when May Parcher said that Joe Bullitt was "awfully sarcastic." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Booth Tarkington, Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II (1916)

“ Just now it was most definite in the look she bent upon the light and fluffy burden which she carried nestled in the inner curve of her right arm: a tiny dog with hair like cotton and a pink ribbon round his neck—an animal sated with indulgence and idiotically unaware of his privilege. He was half asleep!
William did not see the dog, or it is the plain, anatomical truth that when he saw how pretty the girl was, his heart—his physical heart—began to do things the like of which, experienced by an elderly person, would have brought the doctor in haste. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Booth Tarkington, Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II (1916)

“ A person of this description was encountered upon the sidewalk within a hundred yards of his own home, and William Sylvanus Baxter saw her while yet she was afar off. The quiet and shady thoroughfare was empty of all human life, at the time, save for those two; and she was upon the same side of the street that he was; thus it became inevitable that they should meet, face to face, for the first time in their lives. He had perceived, even in the distance, that she was unknown to him, a stranger, because he knew all the girls in this part of the town who dressed as famously in the mode as that! ”

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Source: Wikisource

Booth Tarkington, Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II (1916)

“ William had spent the ensuing hour in an object-lesson intended to make Miss Parcher see that William Sylvanus Baxter was twice as sarcastic as Joe Bullitt ever thought of being, but this great effort had been unsuccessful, because William failed to understand that Miss Parcher had only been sending a sort of message to Mr. Bullitt. It was a device not unique among her sex; her hope was that William would repeat her remark in such a manner that Joe Bullitt would hear it and call to inquire what she meant.
"'So indifferink'!" murmured William, leaning dreamily upon the gate-post. "Indifferink!" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Booth Tarkington, Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II (1916)

“ You don't take any interest in girls! Oh no!"
"No, I do not!" was the emphatic and heartless retort. "I never saw one in my life I'd care whether she lived or died!"
"Honest?" asked Johnnie, struck by the conviction with which this speech was uttered. "Honest, is that so?"
"Yes, 'honest'!" William replied, sharply. "They could all die, I wouldn't notice!" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Booth Tarkington, Seventeen (novel) — Chapter II (1916)

“ And then, as the distance between them lessened, he saw that she was ravishingly pretty; far, far prettier, indeed, than any girl he knew. At least it seemed so, for it is, unfortunately, much easier for strangers to be beautiful. ”

Booth Tarkington

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