spects more serious than Jim's,--and the
prize will lie between these two. Whoever proves himself most worthy
and capable, the most steady, reliable, and best master of himself,
shall take the scholarship. But, if Jim goes regularly to school, he
will, of course, have to resign, in a great measure, his duties as a
household servant. Are you willing to have him do this? For I do not
wish or intend to inconvenience you. What is your opinion of the whole
matter?"

"Ask Milly," said mother, "she is the arbitress of his fate."

And uncle Rutherford looked to that young damsel.

"What say you, Milly?"

There was little need of words. Milly's sparkling eyes and flushed
cheeks spoke for her. This was so much beyond any thing she had hoped
for on behalf of the boy, that at first it seemed to her almost too
good to be true. And, yet, there were lions in the way. And, after a
moment's consideration, she answered, somewhat hesitatingly,--

"I hardly know what to say, sir."

We all looked in astonishment. Most of the family thought that Milly's
hopes and ideas for the future of her _proteges_ were rather quixotic
and unreasonable, aiming at taking them out of their proper sphere. But
here her clear judgment and good sense saw some objections to uncle
Rutherford's plan.

"You are very kind, more than kind, uncle," she continued. "Such an
offer is, indeed, a 'chance' for Jim such as I had never dreamed of,
and there could be no question between this, and his training as a
household servant; but I fear for the effect of the emulation upon him.
If he is to gain this prize by outstripping or defeating another, the
spirit of victory for victory's sake will take possession of him, and
he will make every thing give way to it."

"Then he will not prove himself worthy of the prize," said uncle
Rutherford, who had a fancy for inciting young people to efforts of
this nature, and who was always holding out some prize to be striven
for.

"I don't know," said Milly, a little wistfully; "he is so impulsive, so
eager, so almost passionate, in the pursuit of any object on which he
has set his mind, that I am afraid too much of the spirit of rivalry
will enter into his efforts to win this."

"And," put in Norman, "he will be so cock-a-hoop if he is set to study
for a scholarship, that there will be no bearing him, and----"

But Norman was brought to an abrupt silence, by a quick reprimand from
father; while uncle Rutherford took no notic