"For months I have suffered from a growing dissatisfaction with the fruitless life I am leading." "And yet with what a fond desire we looked forward to the time when we could call a spot like this our own! The world had for us no more tempting offer." "While struggling up from the valley, we cannot know how wide the landscape will spread beneath our enchanted vision.

We fix our eyes on the point to be gained.

That reached, we are, for a time, content with our elevation.

But just enough of valley and mountain, stretching far off in the dim distance, is revealed, to quicken our desire for a more extended vision, and soon, with renewed strength, we lift our gaze upward, and the word 'excelsior!' comes almost unbidden to our lips.

There is a higher and a highest place to be gained, and I feel, Agnes, that there will be no rest for my feet until I reach the highest." "Pray heaven your too eager feet stumble not!" almost sobbed Mrs.
Markland, with something of a prophetic impulse.
The tone and manner of his wife, more than her words, disturbed Mr.
Markland.
"Why should the fact of my re-entering business so trouble you ?" he asked.