her eyes. Put in bald language was not that her own
ambition also? In thinking over the essay, she had mentally rehearsed
many grandiose phrases; but now, with a sudden chilling of the blood,
she realised the emptiness of the high-sounding words. What had she
ever wished from life but pleasure, approbation, and easy success? How
much thought had she given to possible trials and difficulties? How
much effort to train herself for the battle of life? It was one of
those blinding moments of self-revelation which come to us all, and
before which the noblest natures shrink aghast. Dreda leant her head
against the wall to hide herself from the dancing firelight, but her
unusual silence could not fail to attract attention, and Norah was quick
with a gibing question.

"Why so silent, Etheldreda the Ready? Can it be that you have been so
busy arranging the lives of other people that you have not had time to
think of your own?"

The dart struck home once more, but before there was time to answer
Susan rushed to the defence.

"It's just because Dreda _is_ thinking that she does not talk. Dreda
will win the prize. No one has a chance against her, but it is such a
thrilling subject that it will be interesting to try. The difficulty
will be to keep within the limit; only three thousand words--"

"Only! My dear, do you know what three thousand words mean? I counted
up one sheet of foolscap, and it came to two hundred and fifty. How on
earth could one find enough to say about life to fill twelve whole
pages?"

Flora was transparently in earnest, her blue, opaque-looking eyes roving
from face to face, inviting sympathy and understanding; but Susan gave a
clear little laugh of derision.

"I could fill volumes! It's a wonderful, wonderful theme--a voyage into
the dark--a battle to be fought, a victory to be won, a mountain to be
climbed, or perhaps no mountain at all, but just a long, long road, on a
dead level plain. Work and effort, and failure and success, sorrow and
joy, and at the end the secret--the great secret--solved at last!"

Susan's voice trembled, her slight little form shook with emotion, she
pressed her hands against her knees to still their trembling. The girls
stared at the floor, or exchanged furtive glances of embarrassment.
Susan was "too too for words" in her high falutin' moods; she talked
just like people in books; silly nonsense that no one could understand!
She was going to leave school wh