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 protege.  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.