"I see no credit in being first in mere physical things," said Joanna, who was small and weak.
"Well, I do then," replied Paul, who was tall and strong.
"I think it is nice to do things well, whether they are physical or mental," added Alice, who was amiable.
"It is awfully jolly to feel you are in good form," replied Paul, pinching his biceps.
"I'd far rather be a genius than the strongest man in the world," said his sister.
"Would you?" argued Paul. "I can't say that I would. I'd rather have been Achilles in the thick of the fight, than Homer writing about him. Still success in anything is a fine thing—about the finest thing in the world, I suppose—and it must be glorious for a man to feel himself a head and shoulders above his fellows in any sphere!"
"You think too much about success," said Joanna gravely; "the great thing, it seems to me, is to do one's duty, and not bother about the results. I can imagine failure's being a better thing than success, under certain circumstances."
Paul shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I can't; and at any rate I hope my portion in life will be the inferior one you call success."
"I am sure it will be," added Alice, "you are so awfully clever that there is no doubt that you will succeed in whatever you undertake, just as you have done in the boating."
"Which, as I said before, doesn't seem to me a sort of success worth having," said the unbending Joanna.