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you up in no time；〃 and； as Flora went； he continued； 〃Never mind
your aims and fames and trumpery English rhymes。 Your verses will be
much the best； Ethel； I only went on a little about Mount Vesuvius
and the landscape； as Alan described it the other day； and Decius
taking a last look； knowing he was to die。 I made him beg his
horse's pardon； and say how they will both be remembered； and their
self…devotion would inspire Romans to all posterity； and shout with a
noble voice！〃 said Norman； repeating some of his lines； correcting
them as he proceeded。
〃Oh！ yes； but oh； dear； I've done！ Come along；〃 said Ethel；
crumpling her work into a bundle； and snatching up her gloves； then；
as they ran downstairs； and emerged into the street； 〃It is a famous
subject。〃
〃Yes； you have made a capital beginning。 If you won't break down
somewhere； as you always do； with some frightful false quantity； that
you would get an imposition for； if you were a boy。 I wish you were。
I should like to see old Hoxton's face； if you were to show him up
some of these verses。〃
〃I'll tell you what； Norman； if I was you； I would not make Decius
flatter himself with the fame he was to getit is too like the stuff
every one talks in stupid books。 I want him to sayRomemy
countrythe eaglesmust win； if they donever mind what becomes of
me。〃
〃But why should he not like to get the credit of it； as he did？ Fame
and glorythey are the spirit of life； the reward of such a death。〃
〃Oh； no； no；〃 said Ethel。 〃Fame is coarse and vulgarblinder than
ever they draw Love or Fortuneshe is only a personified newspaper；
trumpeting out all that is extraordinary； without minding whether it
is good or bad。 She misses the delicate and lovelyI wished they
would give us a theme to write about her。 I should like to abuse her
well。〃
〃It would make a very good theme； in a new line；〃 said Norman； 〃but
I don't give into it； altogether。 It is the hope and the thought of
fame； that has made men great； from first to last。 It is in every
one that is not good for nothing； and always will be！ The moving
spirit of man's greatness！〃
〃I'm not sure；〃 said Ethel； 〃I think looking for fame is like wanting
a reward at once。 I had rather people forgot themselves。 Do you
think Arnold von Winkelried thought about fame when he threw himself
on the spears？〃
〃He got it；〃 said Norman。
〃Yes； he got it for the good of other people； not to please himself。
Fame does those that admire it good； not those that win it。〃
〃But！〃 said Norman； and both were silent for some short interval； as
they left the last buildings of the town； and began to mount a steep
hill。 Presently Norman slackened his pace； and driving his stick
vehemently against a stone； exclaimed； 〃It is no use talking； Ethel；
it is all a fight and a race。 One is always to try to be foremost。
That's the spirit of the thingthat's what the great； from first to
last； have struggled； and fought； and lived； and died for。〃
〃I know it is a battle； I know it is a race。 The Bible says so；〃
replied Ethel； 〃but is not there the difference； that here all may
winnot only one？ One may do one's best； not care whether one is
first or last。 That's what our reading to…day said。〃
〃That was against trumpery vanityfalse elevationnot what one has
earned for oneself； but getting into other people's places that one
never deserved。 That every one despises！〃
〃Of course！ That they do。 I say； Norman； didn't you mean Harvey
Anderson？〃
Instead of answering； Norman exclaimed； 〃It is pretension that is
hatefultrue excelling is what one's life is for。 No； no； I'll
never be beat； EthelI never have been beat by any one； except by
you； when you take pains；〃 he added； looking exultingly at his
sister； 〃and I never will be。〃
〃Oh； Norman！〃
〃I mean； of course； while I have senses。 I would not be like Richard
for all the world。〃
〃Oh； no； no； poor Richard！〃
〃He is an excellent fellow in everything else；〃 said Norman； 〃I could
sometimes wish I was more like himbut how he can be so amazingly
slow； I can't imagine。 That examination paper he broke down inI
could have done it as easily as possible。〃
〃I did it all but one question；〃 said Ethel； 〃but so did he； you
know； and we can't tell whether we should have it done well enough。〃
〃I know I must do something respectable when first I go to Oxford； if
I don't wish to be known as the man whose brother was plucked；〃 said
Norman。
〃Yes；〃 said Ethel； 〃if papa will but let you try for the Randall
scholarship next year； but he says it is not good to go to Oxford so
young。〃
〃And I believe I had better not be there with Richard；〃 added Norman。
〃I don't like coming into contrast with him； and I don't think he can
like it； poor fellow； and it isn't his fault。 I had rather stay
another year here； get one of the open scholarships； and leave the
Stoneborough ones for those who can do no better。〃
In justice to Norman； we must observe that this was by no means said
as a boast。 He would scarcely have thus spoken to any one but
Etheldred； to whom； as well as to himself； it seemed mere matter…of…
fact。 The others had in the meantime halted at the top of the hill；
and were looking back at the townthe great old Minster； raising its
twin towers and long roof； close to the river； where rich green
meadows spread over the valley； and the town rising irregularly on
the slope above； plentifully interspersed with trees and gardens； and
one green space on the banks of the river； speckled over with a flock
of little black dots in rapid motion。
〃Here you are！〃 exclaimed Flora。 〃I told them it was of no use to
wait when you and Norman had begun a dissertation。〃
〃Now； Mr。 Ernescliffe； I should like you to say；〃 cried Ethel； 〃which
do you think is the best； the name of it； or the thing？〃 Her
eloquence always broke down with any auditor but her brother； or；
perhaps； Margaret。
〃Ethel！〃 said Norman； 〃how is any one to understand you？ The
argument is this： Ethel wants people to do great deeds； and be
utterly careless of the fame of them； I say； that love of glory is a
mighty spring。〃
〃A mighty one！〃 said Alan： 〃but I think； as far as I understand the
question； that Ethel has the best of it。〃
〃I don't mean that people should not serve the cause first of all；〃
said Norman； 〃but let them have their right place and due honour。〃
〃They had better make up their minds to do without it；〃 said Alan。
〃Remember
〃The world knows nothing of its greatest men。〃
〃Then it is a great shame；〃 said Norman。
〃But do you think it right；〃 said Ethel； 〃to care for distinction？
It is a great thing to earn it； but I don't think one should care for
the outer glory。〃
〃I believe it is a great temptation；〃 said Alan。 〃The being over…
elated or over…depressed by success or failure in the eyes of the
world； independently of the exertion we have used。〃
〃You call it a temptation？〃 said Ethel。
〃Decidedly so。〃
〃But one can't live or get on without it；〃 said Norman。
There they were cut short。 There was a plantation to be crossed；
with a gate that would not open； and that seemed an effectual barrier
agai