"Oh! We only read the worst. It must be wonderful to be famous. Come, Alex,
we must see the pictures. They're going to have music and supper later."
V
"Nevertheless," said Alexina, "they are real as far as they go, and they
really do things, good or bad. They work, they aspire; they dream, and
perhaps with reason, of a glorious future, when they will be as famous and
successful as the founders of the club. Even if they fail they will have
had the wonderful dream. Nothing can take that from them. I envy them--envy
them!"
They were standing in a far corner of the room, after having examined three
or four admirable and many passable paintings. Aileen looked at her in
surprise. They had both been remarking upon the comic aspects of the
intellectual life, and Alexina's outburst was unexpected. Aileen had
seldom seen her vehement since they had outgrown their youthful habit of
wrangling. She was still more astonished when she turned from a view of the
Latin-seeming roofs of San Francisco from Twin Peaks, to Alexina's face. It
looked drawn and desperate.
"Well, most of them will fail," she said lightly. "Look at these pictures!
That is what is the matter with California--too much talent. You must be as
individual as a talking monkey to get your head above the crowd. All these
poor devils are doomed to the local reputation."
"Even so they have something to live for, mean something, do something.
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