as if some new born hope were lending its
inspiration to his soul. Altogether manlier was his aspect and bearing
than I had ever seen it.

"God speed your mission," said I, as I shook hands with him in parting.

"If it depends on human agency, directed with earnestness, patience, and
will, my mission will have a prosperous result," he replied. "It is to
be my first entirely self-reliant experience, and I think the discipline
of mind it will involve must strengthen me for higher professional work
than any in which I have yet been engaged. You are aware, Doctor, that
my heart is in my profession."

"So I have seen from the beginning."

"I will not deny," he added, "that I have ambition. That I wish to be
distinguished at the bar."

"An honorable ambition," said I.

"Nor that, sometimes--in moments of weakness, perhaps--my dreams
have gone higher. But I am a very young man, and youth is ardent and
imaginative," he added.

"And you have this great advantage," I replied, "that, with every year
added to your life, you may, if you will, grow wiser and stronger. You
stand, as all young minds, at the bottom of a ladder. The height to
which you climb will depend upon your strength and endurance."

"If we both live long enough, Doctor, you may see me on the topmost
rundle, for I shall climb with unwearying effort."

He spoke with a fine enthusiasm, that lent a manly beauty to his face.

"Climb on," I answered, "and you will rise high above the great mass,
who are aimless and indolent. But you will have competitors, few, but
vigorous and tireless. In the contest for position that you must wage
with these, all your powers will be taxed; and if you reach the
topmost rundle to which you aspire, success will be, indeed, a proud
achievement."

"I have the will, the ambition, the courage, and the endurance, Doctor,"
was his reply. "So, if I fail, the fault will lie here," and he touched,
significantly, his forehead.

"For lack of brains?" said I, smiling.

"Yes. The defect will lie there," he answered, smiling in return.

"Brains are remarkable for latent capacity. If stimulated, they develop
new powers, and this almost without limit. All they want is to be well
supplied with the right kind of food, and well worked at the same time."

"I believe that, Doctor, and find vast encouragement in the thought,"
and Wallingford laughed pleasantly.

Our parting words were growing voluminous. So we shook hands again,
repeated ou