The interim between youth and manhood was passed by young William and
young Henry in studious application to literature; some casual mistakes
in our customs and manners on the part of Henry; some too close
adherences to them on the side of William.
Their different characters, when boys, were preserved when they became
men: Henry still retained that natural simplicity which his early destiny
had given him; he wondered still at many things he saw and heard, and at
times would venture to give his opinion, contradict, and even act in
opposition to persons whom long experience and the approbation of the
world had placed in situations which claimed his implicit reverence and
submission.
Unchanged in all his boyish graces, young William, now a man, was never
known to infringe upon the statutes of good-breeding; even though
sincerity, his own free will, duty to his neighbour, with many other
plebeian virtues and privileges, were the sacrifice.
William inherited all the pride and ambition of the dean--Henry, all his
father's humility. And yet, so various and extensive is the acceptation
of the word pride, that, on some occasions, Henry was proud even beyond
his cousin. He thought it far beneath his dignity ever to honour, or
contemplate with awe, any human being in whom he saw numerous failings.
Nor would he, to ingratiate himself into the favour of a man above him,
stoop to one servility, such as the haughty William daily practised.
"I know I am called proud," one day said William to Henry.
"Dear cousin," replied Henry, "it must be only, then, by those who do not
know you; for to me you appear the humblest creature in the world."
"Do you really think so?"
"I am certain of it; or would you always give up your opinion to that of
persons in a superior state, however inferior in their understanding?
Would else their weak judgment immediately change yours, though, before,
you had been decided on the opposite side? Now, indeed, cousin, I have
more pride than you; for I never will stoop to act or to speak contrary
to my feelings."
"Then you will never be a great man."
"Nor ever desire it, if I must first be a mean one."
There was in the reputation of these two young men another mistake, which
the common retailers of character committed. Henry was said to be wholly
negligent, while William was reputed to be extremely attentive to the
other sex. William, indeed, was gallant, was amorous, and indulged his
inclination to the libertine society of women; but Henry it was who
_loved_ them. He admired them at a reverential distance, and felt so
tender an affection for the virtuous female, that it shocked him to
behold, much more to associate with, the depraved and vicious.
In the advantages of person Henry was still superior to William; and yet
the latter had no common share of those attractions which captivate weak,
thoughtless, or unskilful minds.