"Do you mean to say, Cornelius, that you will never be one of the celebrated artists of whom I have read so much?"
"Never!" he replied, with a dreary seriousness that proved him, for the moment at least, to be quite in earnest.
"Cornelius," I said, decisively, "I am not going to put up with that, you know; fame is not a thing to be laid aside in that fashion."
"Fame! what is fame?"
"A poor aim, but a glorious reward."
"Empty, Daisy, empty. I do not care one pin for fame."
"Sour grapes," was the prompt reply which escaped me.
"Thank you, Daisy," he answered, reddening.
I felt rather disturbed. He resumed:
"Sour grapes! The illustration is kind and civil. Sour grapes!"