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Spires and Gargoyles
AmoryfoundthatwritingfortheNassauLiteraryMagazinewouldgethimnothing,butthatbeingontheboardoftheDailyPrincetonianwouldgetanyoneagooddeal.HisvaguedesiretodoimmortalactingwiththeEnglishDramaticAssociationfadedoutwhenhefoundthatthemostingeniousbrainsandtalentswereconcentratedupontheTriangleClub,amusicalcomedyorganizationthateveryyeartookagreatChristmastrip.Inthemeanwhile,feelingstrangelyaloneandrestlessinCommons,withnewdesiresandambitionsstirringinhismind,heletthefirsttermgobybetweenanenvyoftheembryosuccessesandapuzzledfrettingwithKerryastowhytheywerenotacceptedimmediatelyamongtheeliteoftheclass.
Manyafternoonstheyloungedinthewindowsof12UniveeandwatchedtheclasspasstoandfromCommons,notingsatellitesalreadyattachingthemselvestothemoreprominent,watchingthelonelygrindwithhishurriedstepanddowncasteye,envyingthehappysecurityofthebigschoolgroups.
"We’rethedamnedmiddleclass,that’swhat!"hecomplainedtoKerryonedayashelaystretchedoutonthesofa,consumingafamilyofFatimaswithcontemplativeprecision.
"Well,whynot?WecametoPrincetonsowecouldfeelthatwaytowardthesmallcolleges—haveiton’em,moreself-confidence,dressbetter,cutaswathe—"
"Oh,itisn’tthatImindtheglitteringcastesystem,"admittedAmory."Ilikehavingabunchofhotcatsontop,butgosh,Kerry,I’vegottobeoneofthem."
"Butjustnow,Amory,you’reonlyasweatybourgeois."
