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daughter had said。 Perhaps the little modes of secret discipline； of
which Ethel had spoken； might be the true means of clasping the
staffperhaps she had been impatient； and wanting in humility in
craving for the strife； when her armour was scarce put on。
Dr。 May spoke once again。 〃Don't let any one long for external
trial。 The offering of a free heart is the thing。 To offer praise
is the great object of all creatures in heaven and earth。 If the
happier we are； the more we praise； then all is well。〃
But the serious discussion was suddenly broken off。
Others had seen Dr。 May's approach； and Harry and Mary rushed down in
dismay at their story having； as they thought； been forestalled。
However； they had it all to themselves； and the doctor took up the
subject as keenly as could have been hoped； but the poor boy being
still fast asleep； after； probably； much fatigue； he would not then
waken him to examine him； but came and sat down in the semicircle；
formed by a terraced bank of soft turf； where Mrs。 Larpent； Mrs。
Wilmot； Richard； and Flora； had for some time taken up their abode。
Meta brought him the choice little basket of fruit which she had
saved for him； and all delighted in having him there； evidently
enjoying the rest and sport very much； as he reposed on the fragrant
slope； eating grapes； and making inquiries as to the antiquities
lately discovered。
Norman gave an exceedingly droll account of the great Roman Emperor；
Tiberius V。V。； and Meta correcting it； there was a regular gay
skirmish of words； which entertained every one extremelyabove all；
Meta's indignation when the charge was brought home to her of having
declared the 〃old Duke〃 exactly like in turns to Domitian and
Tiberiushis features quite forbidding。
This lasted till the younger ones； who had been playing and rioting
till they were tired； came up； and throwing themselves down on the
grass； Blanche petitioned for something that every one could play at。
Meta proposed what she called the story play。 One was to be sent out
of earshot； and the rest to agree upon a word； which was then to be
guessed by each telling a story； and introducing the word into it；
not too prominently。 Meta volunteered to guess； and Harry whispered
to Mary it would be no go； but； in the meantime； the word was found；
and Blanche eagerly recalled Meta； and sat in the utmost expectation
and delight。 Meta turned first to Richard； but he coloured
distressfully； and begged that Flora might tell his story for himhe
should only spoil the game。 Flora； with a little tinge of graceful
reluctance； obeyed。 〃No woman had been to the summit of Mont Blanc；〃
she said； 〃till one young girl； named Marie； resolved to have this
glory。 The guides told her it was madness； but she persevered。 She
took the staff； and everything requisite； and； following a party；
began the ascent。 She bravely supported every fatigue； climbed each
precipice； was undaunted by the giddy heights she attained； bravely
crossed the fields of snow； supported the bitter cold； and finally；
though suffering severely； arrived at the topmost peak； looked forth
where woman had never looked before； felt her heart swell at the
attainment of her utmost ambition； and the name of Marie was
inscribed as that of the woman who alone has had the glory of
standing on the summit of the Giant of the Alps。〃
It was prettily enunciated； and had a pleasing effect。 Meta stood
conning the wordswomangiantmountaingloryand begged for
another tale。
〃Mine shall not be so stupid as Flora's；〃 said Harry。 〃We have an
old sailor on board the Alcestisa giant he might be for his voice
but he sailed once in the Glory of the West； and there they had a
monkey that was picked up in Africa； and one day this old fellow
found his queer messmate； as he called him； spying through a glass；
just like the captain。 The captain had a glorious collection of old
coins； and the like； dug up in some of the old Greek colonies； and
whenever Master Monkey saw him overhauling them； he would get out a
brass button； or a card or two； and turn 'em over； and chatter at
them； and glory over them； quite knowing；〃 said Harry； imitating the
gesture； 〃and I dare say he saw V。V。； and Tiberius Caesar； as well as
the best of them。〃
〃Thank you； Mr。 Harry；〃 said Meta。 〃I think we are at no loss for
monkeys here。 But I have not the word yet。 Who comes next？
Ethel〃
〃I shall blunder； I forewarn you；〃 said Ethel； 〃but this is mine：
There was a young king who had an old tutor； whom he despised because
he was so strict； so he got rid of him； and took to idle sport。 One
day； when he was out hunting in a forest； a white hind came and ran
before him； till she guided him to a castle； and there he found a
lady all dressed in white； with a beamy crown on head； and so nobly
beautiful that he fell in love with her at once； and was only sorry
to see another prince who was come to her palace too。 She told them
her name was Gloria； and that she had had many suitors； but the
choice did not depend on herselfshe could only be won by him who
deserved her； and for three years they were to be on their probation；
trying for her。 So she dismissed them； only burning to gain her； and
telling them to come back in three years' time。 But they had not
gone far before they saw another palace； much finer； all glittering
with gold and silver； and their Lady Gloria came out to meet them；
not in her white dress； but in one all gay and bright with fine
colours； and her crown they now saw was of diamonds。 She told them
they had only seen her everyday dress and house； this was her best；
and she showed them about the castle； and all the pictures of her
former lovers。 There was Alexander； who had been nearer retaining
her than any one； only the fever prevented it； there was Pyrrhus；
always seeking her； but slain by a tile； Julius CaesarTamerlane
all the rest； and she hoped that one of these two would really prove
worthy and gain her； by going in the same path as these great people。
〃So our prince went home； his head full of being like Alexander and
all the rest of them； and he sent for his good old tutor to reckon up
his armies； and see whom he could conquer in order to win her。 But
the old tutor told him he was under a mistake； the second lady he had
seen was a treacherous cousin of Gloria； who drew away her suitors by
her deceits； and whose real name was Vana Gloria。 If he wished to
earn the true Gloria； he must set to work to do his subjects good；
and to be virtuous。 And he did； he taught them； and he did justice
to them； and he bore it patiently and kindly when they did not
understand。 But by…and…by the other king； who had no good tutor to
help him； had got his armies together； and conquered ever so many
people； and drawn off their men to be soldiers； and now he attacked
the good prince； and was so strong that he gained the victory； though
both prince and subjects fought manfully with heart and hand； but the
battle was lost； and the faithful prince wounded and made prisoner；
but bearing it most patiently； till he was dragged behind the other's
triumphal car with all the rest； when the three years were up； to be
presented to Vana Gloria。 And so he was carried into the forest；
bleeding and wounded； and his enemy drove the car over his body； and
stretched out his arms to Vana Gloria； and found her a vain； ugly
wretch； who grew frightful as soon as he grasped her。 But the good
dying prince saw the beautiful beamy face of his ladylove bending
over him。 'Oh！' he said； 'vision of my life； hast thou come to
lighten my dying eyes？ Nevernever； even in my best days； did I
deem that I could be worthy of thee； the more I strove； the more I
knew that Gloria is for none belowfor me less than all。'
〃And then the lady came and lifted him up； and she said； 'Gloria is
given to all who do and suffer truly in a good cause； for
faithfulness is glory； and that is thine。'〃
Ethel's language had become more flowing as she grew more eager in
the tale； and they all listened with suspended interest。 Norman
asked where she got the story。 〃Out of an old French book； the
'Magazin des enfans；'〃 was the answer。
〃But why did you alter the end？〃 said Flora； 〃why kill the poor man？
He used to be prosperous； why not？〃
〃Because I thought；〃 said Ethel； 〃that glory could not properly
belong to any one here； and if he was once conscious of it； it would
be all spoiled。 Well； Meta； do you guess？〃
〃Oh！ the word！ I had forgotten all about it。 I think I know what it
must be； but I should so like another story。 May I not have one？〃
said Meta coaxingly。 〃Mary； it is you。〃
Mary fell back on her papa； and begged him to take hers。 Papa told
the best stories of all； she said； and Meta looked beseeching。
〃My story will not be as long as Ethel's；〃 said the doctor； yielding
with a half…reluctant smile。 〃My story is of a humming…bird； a
little creature that loved its master with all its strength； and
longed to do somewhat for him。 It was not satisfied with its lot；
because it seemed merely a vain and profitless creature。 The
nightingale sang praise； and the woods sounded with the glory of its
strai