competition than to win it himself."

"He is a very good friend," Mrs. Peyton assented. She was struck by the way
in which the girl led the topic back to the special application of it which
interested her. She had none of the artifices of prudery.

"He feels sure that Mr. Peyton _will_ win," Miss Verney continued.
"It was very interesting to hear his reasons. He is an extraordinarily
interesting man. It must be a tremendous incentive to have such a friend."

Mrs. Peyton hesitated. "The friendship is delightful; but I don't know that
my son needs the incentive. He is almost too ambitious."

Miss Verney looked up brightly. "Can one be?" she said. "Ambition is so
splendid! It must be so glorious to be a man and go crashing through
obstacles, straight up to the thing one is after. I'm afraid I don't care
for people who are superior to success. I like marriage by capture!" She
rose with her wandering laugh, and stood flushed and sparkling above Mrs.
Peyton, who continued to gaze at her gravely.

"What do you call success?" the latter asked. "It means so many different
things."

"Oh, yes, I know--the inward approval, and all that. Well, I'm afraid I
like the other kind: the drums and wreaths and acclamations. If I were Mr.
Peyton, for instance, I'd much rather win the competition than--than be as
disinterested as Mr. Darrow."

Mrs. Peyton smiled. "I hope you won't tell him so," she said half
seriously. "He is over-stimulated already; and he is so easily influenced