Very early in his youth he had come by a great and definite ambition, he had been inspired by it, he had welcomed and clung to it with the simplicity and whole-heartedness which are of the essence of youth.

It was always new to him, however long he pondered over it; his joy in it was always fresh.

He had never doubted either the true gold of the thing he desired, or his capacity ultimately to attain it.

But he had ordered his life towards its attainment with the method of a far older man, examining each opportunity which came his way with always the one question in his mind--"Does it help ?"--and leaving or using that opportunity according to the answer.

Youth, however, was the truth of him.