tears came into her eyes--"I cannot bear
to think of his telling Richard it was no use to think of being a
clergyman, and he had better turn carpenter at once, just because he
failed in his examination."

"My dear, I wish you would forget that," said Mrs. May. "You know papa
sometimes says more than he means, and he was excessively vexed and
disappointed. I know he was pleased with Ritchie's resolve not to come
home again till he had passed, and it is best that it should not be
broken."

"The whole vacation, studying so hard, and this christening!" said
Margaret; "it is treating him as if he had done wrong. I do believe Mr.
Ernescliffe thinks he has--for papa always turns away the conversation
if his name is mentioned! I wish you would explain it, mamma; I can't
bear that."

"If I can," said Mrs. May, rather pleased that Margaret had taken on
herself this vindication of her favourite brother her father's expense.
"But, after all, Margaret, I never feel quite sure that poor Ritchie
does exert himself to the utmost, he is too desponding to make the most
of himself."

"And the more vexed papa is, the worse it grows!" said Margaret. "It is
provoking, though. How I do wish sometimes to give Ritchie a jog, when
there is some stumbling-block that he sticks fast at. Don't you remember
those sums, and those declensions? When he is so clear and sensible
about practical matters too--anything but learning--I cannot think
why--and it is very mortifying!"

"I dare say it is very good for us not to have our ambition gratified,"
said her mother. "There are so many troubles worse than these failures,
that it only shows how happy we are that we should take them so much to
heart."

"They are a very real trouble!" said Margaret. "Don't smile, mamma. Only
remember how wretched his schooldays were, when papa could not see any
difficulty in what to him was so hard, and how all papa's eagerness only
stupified him the more."

"They are a comfort not to have that over again! Yet," said the mother,
"I often think there is more fear for Norman. I dread his talent and
success being snares."

"There is no self-sufficiency about him," said Margaret. "I hope not,
and he is so transparent, that it would be laughed down at the first
bud: but the universal good report, and certainty of success, and being
so often put in comparison with Richard, is hardly safe. I was very glad
he heard what Ethel said to-day."

"Ethel spoke very deeply," sai