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Spires and Gargoyles
Indefinitelyfromsomewhereabellboomedthequarter-hour,andAmory,pausingbythesun-dial,stretchedhimselfoutfulllengthonthedampgrass.Thecoolbathedhiseyesandslowedtheflightoftime—timethathadcreptsoinsidiouslythroughthelazyAprilafternoons,seemedsointangibleinthelongspringtwilights.Eveningaftereveningtheseniorsinginghaddriftedoverthecampusinmelancholybeauty,andthroughtheshellofhisundergraduateconsciousnesshadbrokenadeepandreverentdevotiontothegraywallsandGothicpeaksandalltheysymbolizedaswarehousesofdeadages.
Thetowerthatinviewofhiswindowsprangupward,grewintoaspire,yearninghigheruntilitsuppermosttipwashalfinvisibleagainstthemorningskies,gavehimthefirstsenseofthetransiencyandunimportanceofthecampusfiguresexceptasholdersoftheapostolicsuccession.HelikedknowingthatGothicarchitecture,withitsupwardtrend,waspeculiarlyappropriatetouniversities,andtheideabecamepersonaltohim.Thesilentstretchesofgreen,thequiethallswithanoccasionallate-burningscholasticlightheldhisimaginationinastronggrasp,andthechastityofthespirebecameasymbolofthisperception.
"Damnitall,"hewhisperedaloud,wettinghishandsinthedampandrunningthemthroughhishair."NextyearIwork!"Yetheknewthatwherenowthespiritofspiresandtowersmadehimdreamilyacquiescent,itwouldthenoverawehim.Wherenowherealizedonlyhisowninconsequence,effortwouldmakehimawareofhisownimpotencyandinsufficiency.
