Of course there was only one career for a man of his leanings, and, more and more, his mind was turning to journalism.

For only one brief period did he again listen to the temptations of a scholar's existence.

The university of his native state invited him to lecture in the summer school of 1878; he took Shakespeare for his subject, and made so great a success that there was some discussion of his settling down permanently at Chapel Hill in the chair of Greek.

Had the offer definitely been made Page would probably have accepted, but difficulties arose.

Page was no longer orthodox in his religious views; he had long outgrown dogma and could only smile at the recollection that he had once thought of becoming a clergyman.