The usher did not fail to transmit an account
of his proficiency to the commodore, who received it with transport,
and forthwith communicated the happy tidings to the parents.
Mr. Gamaliel Pickle, who was never subject to violent emotions,
heard them with a sort of phlegmatic satisfaction, that scarce
manifested itself either in his countenance or expressions; nor
did the child's mother break forth into that rapture and admiration
which might have been expected, when she understood how much the
talents of her first-born had exceeded the hope of her warmest
imagination. Not but that she professed herself well pleased with
Perry's reputation; though she observed that in these commendations
the truth was always exaggerated by schoolmasters, for their own
interest; and pretended to wonder that the usher had not mingled
more probability with his praise. Trunnion was offended at her
indifference and want of faith and believing that she refined too
much in her discernment, swore that Jennings had declared the truth,
and nothing but the truth; for he himself had prophesied, from the
beginning, that the boy would turn out a credit to his family.
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