ore them, the classes ranged in
order in front of them, and the greater part of the company assembled,
the business of the examination commenced in earnest.

The examining committee was composed of the masters of a neighboring
collegiate school, who were three in number--namely, Professor Adams,
Doctor Martin, and Mr. Watkins. The school was divided into three
classes. They began with the lowest class and ascended by regular
rotation to the highest. The examination of these classes passed off
fairly enough to satisfy a reasonable audience. Among the pupils there
was the usual proportion of "sharps, flats, and naturals"--otherwise of
bright, dull, and mediocre individuals. After the examination of the
three classes was complete, there remained the two youths, Walter
Middleton and Ishmael Worth, who, far in advance of the other pupils,
were not classed with them, and, being but two, could not be called a
class of themselves. Yet they stood up and were examined together, and
acquitted themselves with alternating success and equal honor. For
instance, in mathematics Walter Middleton had the advantage; in
belles-lettres Ishmael excelled; in modern languages both were equal;
and nothing now remained but the reading of the two Greek theses to
establish the relative merits of these generous competitors. These
compositions had been placed in the hands of the committee, without the
names of their authors; so that the most captious might not be able to
complain that the decision of the examiners had been swayed by fear or
favor. The theses were to be read and deliberated upon by the examiners
alone, and while this deliberation was going on there was a recess,
during which the pupils were dismissed to amuse themselves on the lawn,
and the audience fell into easy disorder, moving about and chatting
among themselves.

In an hour a bell was rung, the pupils were called in and arranged in
their classes, the audience fell into order again, and the distribution
of prizes commenced. This was arranged on so liberal a scale that each
and all received a prize for something thing or other--if it were not
for scholastic proficiency, or exemplary deportment, then it was for
personal neatness or something else. The two Burghes, who were grossly
ignorant, slothful, perverse, and slovenly, got prizes for the regular
attendance, into which they were daily dragooned by their father.

Walter Middleton received the highest prize in mathematics; Ishm