It is a winged glory that alights beside the youth; and, having gathered his eyes to itself, flits away to a further perch; there alights, there shines, thither entices.

With outstretched hands the child of earth follows, to fall weeping at the foot of the gray disenchanted thing.

But beyond, and again beyond, shines the lapwing of heaven--not, as a faithless generation thinks, to delude like them, but to lead the seeker home to the nest of the glory.
Last of all, Alec was forced to take refuge in his books.
_The competition_ fell on the next day, and he gained a small bursary..