He would not be cleverer than any one, if he could not do more than a girl at home." "He has so much more time for it," said Ethel.
"That's the very thing.

Now consider, Ethel.

His work, after he goes to Oxford, will be doing his very utmost--and you know what an utmost that is.

If you could keep up with him at all, you must give your whole time and thoughts to it, and when you had done so--if you could get all the honours in the University--what would it come to?
You can't take a first-class." "I don't want one," said Ethel; "I only can't bear not to do as Norman does, and I like Greek so much." "And for that would you give up being a useful, steady daughter and sister at home?
The sort of woman that dear mamma wished to make you, and a comfort to papa." Ethel was silent, and large tears were gathering.
"You own that that is the first thing ?" "Yes," said Ethel faintly.
"And that it is what you fail in most ?" "Yes." "Then, Ethel dearest, when you made up your mind to Cocksmoor, you knew those things could not be done without a sacrifice ?" "Yes, but I didn't think it would be this." Margaret was wise enough not to press her, and she sat down and sighed pitifully.

Presently she said, "Margaret, if you would only let me leave off that stupid old French, and horrid dull reading with Miss Winter, I should have plenty of time for everything; and what does one learn by hearing Mary read poetry she can't understand ?" "You work, don't you?
But indeed, Ethel, don't say that I can let you leave off anything.