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The Egotist Considers
"They’reratheroffyouattheclub,youknow;everymanthatdoesn’tcomethroughmakesourcrowdjustsomuchweaker."
"Ihatethatpointofview."
"Ofcourse,withalittleeffortyoucouldstillstageacomeback."
"No—I’mthrough—asfaraseverbeingapowerincollegeisconcerned."
"But,Amory,honestly,whatmakesmetheangriestisn’tthefactthatyouwon’tbechairmanofthePrinceandontheSeniorCouncil,butjustthatyoudidn’tgetdownandpassthatexam."
"Notme,"saidAmoryslowly;"I’mmadattheconcretething.Myownidlenesswasquiteinaccordwithmysystem,buttheluckbroke."
"Yoursystembroke,youmean."
"Maybe."
"Well,whatareyougoingtodo?Getabetteronequick,orjustbumaroundfortwomoreyearsasahas-been?"
"Idon’tknowyet..."
"Oh,Amory,buckup!"
"Maybe."
Amory’spointofview,thoughdangerous,wasnotfarfromthetrueone.Ifhisreactionstohisenvironmentcouldbetabulated,thechartwouldhaveappearedlikethis,beginningwithhisearliestyears:
1.ThefundamentalAmory.
2.AmoryplusBeatrice.
3.AmoryplusBeatriceplusMinneapolis.
ThenSt.Regis’hadpulledhimtopiecesandstartedhimoveragain:
4.AmoryplusSt.Regis’.
5.AmoryplusSt.Regis’plusPrinceton.
Thathadbeenhisnearestapproachtosuccessthroughconformity.ThefundamentalAmory,idle,imaginative,rebellious,hadbeennearlysnowedunder.