Hitherto, to be well dressed, handsome, agreeable, rich, and popular, had been to him a realised ideal of life; but now he awoke to higher and worthier aims; and once, when Russell, whose intelligent interest in his work exceeded that of any other boy, had pointed out to him that solemn question of Euripides-- "[Greek: Ohiei su tous thanontas o Nichaezate Tzuphaes hapasaes metalabontas en bips Pepheugenai to theion];" he fell into a train of reflection, which made a lasting impression upon his character.
The holidays were approaching.

Eric, to escape as much, as possible from his sorrow, plunged into the excitement of working for the examination, and rapidly made up for lost ground.

He now spent most of his time with the best of his friends, particularly Montagu, Owen, and Upton; for Upton, like himself, had been much sobered by sorrow at their loss.

This time he came out _second_ in his form, and gained more than one prize.
This was his first glimpse of real delight since Russell's death; and when the prize-day came, and he stood with his companions in the flower-decorated room, and went up amid universal applause to take his prize-books, and receive a few words of compliment from the governor who took the chair, he felt almost happy, and keenly entered into the pleasure which his success caused, as well as into the honors won by his friends.

One outward sign only remained of his late bereavement--his mourning dress.