l,' said Mr. Gilbertson, looking at the pavement all round him,
'you see, the fact is, the Doctor thought, and some of us thought so
too, that a piece to be acted by boys should have a leetle more--eh?
and not quite so much--so much of what yours has, and a few of those
little natural touches, you know--but you see what I mean, don't you?'

'It would be a capital piece with half that in it,' said Mark, trying
to preserve his temper, 'but I could easily alter it, you know,
Gilbertson.'

'No, no,' said Gilbertson, eagerly, 'you mustn't think of it; you'd
spoil it; we couldn't hear of it, and--and it won't be necessary to
trouble you. Because, you see, the Doctor thought it was a little
long, and not quite light enough; and not exactly the sort of thing
we want, but we all admired it.'

'But it won't do? Is that what you mean?'

'Why--er--nothing definite at present. We are going to write you a
letter about it. Good-bye, good-bye! Got a train to catch at Ludgate
Hill.'

And he bustled away, glad to escape, for he had not counted upon
having to announce a rejection in person.

Mark stood looking after him, with a slightly dazed feeling. _That_
was over, then. He had written works which he felt persuaded had only
to become known to bring him fame; but for all that it seemed that he
was not considered worthy to entertain a Speech-night audience at a
London public school.

Hitherto Mark's life had contained more of failure than success. From
St. Peter's he had gone to a crammer's to be prepared for the Indian
Civil Service, and an easy pass had been anticipated for him even at
the first trial. Unfortunately, however, his name came out low down on
the list--a disaster which he felt must be wiped out at all hazards,
and, happening to hear of an open scholarship that was to be competed
for at a Cambridge college, he tried for it, and this time was
successful. A well-to-do uncle, who had undertaken the expenses
hitherto, was now induced to consent to the abandonment of the Civil
Service in favour of a University career, and Mark entered upon it
accordingly with fair prospects of distinction, if he read with even
ordinary steadiness.

This he had done during his first year, though he managed to get a
fair share of enjoyment out of his life, but then something happened
to change the whole current of his ambitions--he composed a college
skit which brought him considerable local renown, and from that moment
was sought as a