She did not look at him, and did not answer him, but once when he paused, thinking that he had talked enough about himself, she said, "Go on; tell me some more." At last he had told her all.
"Yes," she said, "you have the power and the opportunity, and you will one day be among the foremost men of your generation." "I doubt it," he said with a sigh.

"I am not ambitious.

I only work for the sake of work, not for what it will bring.

One day I daresay that I shall weary of it all and leave it.

But while I do work, I like to be among the first in my degree." "Oh, no," she answered, "you must not give it up; you must go on and on.
Promise me," she continued, looking at him for the first time--"promise me that while you have health and strength you will persevere till you stand alone and quite pre-eminent.