and double-wrinkled great-grandmothers. And
when they were all gone and forgotten, the name of Hopkins would be still
fresh in the world's memory. Inspiring thought! A smile of triumph rose
to his lips; he felt that the village boy who could look forward to fame
as his inheritance was richer than all the millionnaires, and that the
words he should set in verse would have an enduring lustre to which the
whiteness of pearls was cloudy, and the sparkle of diamonds dull.

He raised his eyes, which had been cast down in reflection, to look upon
these less favored children of Fortune, to whom she had given nothing but
perishable inheritances. Two or three pairs of eyes, he observed, were
fastened upon him. His mouth perhaps betrayed a little
self-consciousness, but he tried to show his features in an aspect of
dignified self-possession. There seemed to be remarks and questionings
going on, which he supposed to be something like the following:--

Which is it? Which is it?--Why, that one, there,--that young
fellow,--don't you see?--What young fellow are you two looking at? Who is
he? What is he?--Why, that is Hopkins, the poet.--Hopkins, the poet!
Let me see him! Let me see him! Hopkins? What! Gifted Hopkins? etc.,
etc.

Gifted Hopkins did not hear these words except in fancy, but he did
unquestionably find a considerable number of eyes concentrated upon him,
which he very naturally interpreted as an evidence that he had already
begun to enjoy a foretaste of the fame of which he should hereafter have
his full allowance. Some seemed to be glancing furtively, some appeared
as if they wished to speak, and all the time the number of those looking
at him seemed to be increasing. A vision came through his fancy of
himself as standing on a platform, and having persons who wished to look
upon him and shake hands with him presented, as he had heard was the way
with great people when going about the country. But this was only a
suggestion, and by no means a serious thought, for that would have
implied infatuation.

Gifted Hopkins was quite right in believing that he attracted many eyes.
At last those of Myrtle Hazard were called to him, and she perceived that
an accident was making him unenviably conspicuous. The bow of his rather
large white neck-tie had slid round and got beneath his left ear. A not
very good-natured or well-bred young fellow had pointed out the subject
of this slight misfortune to one or two others