Even with all his necessities paid for, it surprised him
to find how many channels remained for spending money. For
instance, the most agreeable loafing spot on the ship was the
smoking-room, but whenever he entered it he was invited to drink,
smoke, or play cards, and as he was fond of all these diversions,
it required such an effort of will to refuse that it destroyed all
the pleasure of good company. It was very hard always to be saying
no; and in addition it excited his disgust to learn that he had
inadvertently founded a reputation for abstemiousness.
Before long he discovered that the passengers considered him an
exceptionally sober, steady youth of economical habits, and this
enraged him beyond measure. Every tinkle of ice or hiss of seltzer
made his mouth water, the click of poker chips drew him with
magnetic power. He longed mightily to "break over" and have a good
time. It was his first effort at self-restraint, and the warfare
became so intense that he finally gave up the smoking-room almost
entirely, and spent his hours on deck, away from temptation. He
suffered most, perhaps, from the lack of tobacco, but even in the
matter of cigarettes he could not bring himself to accept favors
that he could not return.
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