establishment of Independence, there was no more aristocratic country in
the world than Virginia; so the Virginians, whose history we have to
narrate, were bred to have the fullest respect for the institutions of
home, and the rightful king had not two more faithful little subjects
than the young twins of Castlewood.

When the boys' grandfather died, their mother, in great state, proclaimed
her eldest son George her successor and heir of the estate; and Harry,
George's younger brother by half an hour, was always enjoined to respect
his senior. All the household was equally instructed to pay him honour;
the negroes, of whom there was a large and happy family, and the assigned
servants from Europe, whose lot was made as bearable as it might be under
the government of the lady of Castlewood. In the whole family there
scarcely was a rebel save Mrs. Esmond's faithful friend and companion,
Madam Mountain, and Harry's foster-mother, a faithful negro woman, who
never could be made to understand why her child should not be first, who
was handsomer, and stronger, and cleverer than his brother, as she vowed;
though, in truth, there was scarcely any difference in the beauty,
strength, or stature of the twins. In disposition, they were in many
points exceedingly unlike; but in feature they resembled each other so
closely, that but for the colour of their hair it had been difficult to
distinguish them. In their beds, and when their heads were covered with
those vast ribboned nightcaps which our great and little ancestors wore,
it was scarcely possible for any but a nurse or mother to tell the one
from the other child.

Howbeit alike in form, we have said that they differed in temper. The
elder was peaceful, studious, and silent; the younger was warlike and
noisy. He was quick at learning when he began, but very slow at
beginning. No threats of the ferule would provoke Harry to learn in an