THE MOTHER OP VICTOR HUGO. 239 compete, and, entering at once upon the work without telling any one of his intention, he completed a poem of three hundred and twenty lines. When it was written he felt the need of a confidant to assist him in presenting it to the secretary of the Academy — an ordeal which he dared not face alone — and he trusted the weighty secret to M. Biscarrat, a young teacher of his school, with whom he was on very friendly terms. An accident also rendered his brother Abel aware of what was going on, and he it was who brought to the young poet news of the result of the experiment. He appeared one day with two friends at the school, while Victor was engaged in a romping game, and called out to him : " Come here, stupid ! " The stupid came. " You are a fine fellow ! " Abel went on. " It was well worth your while to put such stuff in your verses ! Who asked you your age ? The Academy thought you wished to mystify them. But for that you would have had the prize. What a donkey you are ! You have a Mention." It was indeed as Abel — whose glowing countenance belied his rough words — had said. An unfortunate line, in which he described himself as a poet of scarcely fifteen, had deprived Victor of the prize. But at that time even an honorable Mention from the Academy was an import- ant event. Victor's name was in the papers ; he was congratulated by all his friends ; and his teachers as well as his comrades were proud to have him a member of their school. Madame Hugo was happy, confident that this success would lead to greater. A little later, however, he gave her something other than literature to think of, and which did not appear to her nearly as satisfactory. Upon leaving school, Eugesne and Victor came to live with their mother, and went with her every evening to visit their old friends and neighbors 15
