John and James, being generous rivals, saw this well-merited advancement
without "envy, hatred or malice"; but to Alfred ind Benjamin Burghe it
was as gall and wormwood.
Walter was, of course, as yet much in advance of Ishmael; but, in
placing the boys together, Mr. Middleton had said: "Now, Walter, you are about to be put upon your very best mettle.
Ishmael will certainly overtake you, and if you are not very careful he
will soon surpass you."
The noble boy laughed as he replied: "After what I have seen of Ishmael for the last two or three years,
father, I dare not make any promises! I think I am a fair match for most
youths of my age; and I should not mind competing with industry alone,
or talent alone, or with a moderate amount of both united in one boy;
but, really, when it comes to competing with invincible genius combined
with indomitable perseverence, I do not enter into the contest with any
very sanguine hopes of success."
The youth's previsions proved true. Before the year was out Ishmael
stood by his side, his equal, and bidding fair to become his superior.
Mr. Middleton had too much magnanimity to feel any little paternal
jealousy on this account. He knew that his own son was highly gifted in
moral and intellectual endowments, and he was satisfied; and if Ishmael
Worth was even his son's superior in these respects, the generous man
only rejoiced the more in contemplating the higher excellence.
Commodore Burghe was also proud of his protégé. He was not very well
pleased that his own sons were eclipsed by the brighter talents of the
peasant boy; but he only shrugged his shoulders as he said: "You know the Bible says that 'gifts are divers,' my friend. Well, my
two boys will never be brilliant scholars, that is certain; but I hope,
for that very reason, Alf may make the braver soldier and Ben the bolder
sailor." And having laid this flattering unction to his soul, the old
man felt no malice against our boy for outshining his own sons.
Not so the Burghe boys themselves. Their natures were essentially low;
and this low nature betrayed itself in their very faces, forms, and
manners. They were short and thickset, with bull necks, bullet heads,
shocks of thick black hair, low foreheads, large mouths, dark
complexions, and sullen expressions. They were very much alike in person
and in character. The only difference being that Alf was the bigger and
the wickeder and Ben the smaller and the weaker.
Against Ishmael they had many grudges, the least of which was cause
enough with them for lifelong malice. First, on that memorable occasion
of the robbed carriage, he had exposed their theft and their falsehood.
Secondly, he had had the good luck to save their lives and win
everlasting renown for the brave act; and this, to churlish, thankless,
and insolent natures like theirs, was the greater offense of the two;
and now he had had the unpardonable impudence to eclipse them in the
school. He! the object of their father's bounty, as they called him.
They lost no opportunity of sneering at him whenever they dared to do
so.