I hate it all the time, and I don't know whether I can keep from thinking of it, when I have nothing to do; but I see it is wrong; I thought all ambition and nonsense was gone out of me, when I cared so little for the examination; but now I see, though I did not want to be made first, I can't bear not to be first; and that's the old story, just as she used to tell me to guard against ambition.

So I'll take my chance, and if I should get put down, why, 'twas not fair that I should be put up, and it is what I ought to be, and serves me right into the bargain--" "Well, that's the best sort of sense, your mother's sense," said the doctor, more affected than he liked to show.

"No wonder she came to you in your dream, Norman, my boy, if you had come to such a resolution.
I was half in hopes you had some such notion when I came upon you, on Far-view down." "I think that sky did it," said Norman, in a low voice; "it made me think of her in a different way--and what you said too." "What did I say?
I don't remember." But Norman could not repeat the words, and only murmured, "Golden hills." It was enough.
"I see," said the doctor, "you had dwelt on the blank here, not taken home what it is to her." "Ay," almost sobbed Norman, "I never could before--that made me," after a long silence, "and then I know how foolish I was, and how she would say it was wrong to make this fuss, when you did not like it, about my place, and that it was not for the sake of my duty, but of ambition.

I knew that, but till I went to bed to-night, I could not tell whether I could make up my mind, so I would say nothing.".