"I dare say it is very good for us not to have our ambition
gratified," said her mother. "There are so many troubles worse than
these failures, that it only shows how happy we are that we should
take them so much to heart."

"They are a very real trouble!" said Margaret. "Don't smile, mamma.
Only remember how wretched his schooldays were, when papa could not
see any difficulty in what to him was so hard, and how all papa's
eagerness only stupified him the more."

"They are a comfort not to have that over again! Yet," said the
mother, "I often think there is more fear for Norman. I dread his
talent and success being snares."

"There is no self-sufficiency about him," said Margaret. "I hope
not, and he is so transparent, that it would be laughed down at the
first bud: but the universal good report, and certainty of success,
and being so often put in comparison with Richard, is hardly safe.
I was very glad he heard what Ethel said to-day."

"Ethel spoke very deeply," said Margaret; "I was a good deal struck
by it--she often comes out with such solid thoughts."

"She is an excellent companion for Norman."

"The desire of being first!" said Margaret, "I suppose that is a form
of caring for oneself! It set me thinking a good deal, mamma, how
many forms of ambition there are. The craving for rank, or wealth,
or beauty, are so clearly wrong, that one does not question about