“Why you see, Mother,” Tom explained, “the congressman names two candidates. The one getting the highest average is first, and the one who comes second is the alternate. That’s to provide, in case the first named doesn’t pass the further examinations at West Point, for some one to take his place, and have a try. Otherwise there’d have to be another preliminary test. So Clarence Hawkesbury is my alternate; eh?”
“Does that annoy you, Tom?”
“Oh, no. For we’ll not both be in West Point, that is, unless he comes up again next year in case of a vacancy. It will have to be either him or me this time, and I rather think,” said Tom, slowly, “it will be I. I’m going to pass, and make good!”
There was an air of determination about him as he said this that was good to see.
Tom read the letter over again. It gave few details except those that have been mentioned, but it contained the information that, in due time, formal notification would come from the Secretary of War, directing Tom when and where to apply at West Point for the further examinations, physical and mental.
Doubtless Clarence Hawkesbury had received a similar letter, and would also be told to apply at West Point when the time came for the final entrance examination.
“I only hope he doesn’t travel with me,” thought Tom, for though he had no ill-feeling against Clarence, yet the rich nephew of the old army officer had frequently made it unpleasant for Tom when they had met.
Formerly Mr. Taylor and Captain Hawkesbury had been rather intimate but, with the death of Tom’s father, and the discovery that most of his fortune had, in some manner, been acquired by the army officer and Mr. Doolittle, Tom could not help feeling coldly toward both the men. There was no specific reason for it, but Mrs. Taylor, too, did not like Captain Hawkesbury. Nor had she any warmer regard for Mr. Doolittle, though they both offered to do what they could to help settle up the estate.
The trouble of it was that there was very little left to be settled up—that is little for Tom and his mother, and Mrs. Taylor preferred the services of a young lawyer to those of Captain Hawkesbury or Mr. Doolittle.
In view of this it can easily be imagined that Tom did not have the warmest feeling in the world for the arrogant and supercilious youth who was to be his rival—a rival, at least, until the results of the final entrance examinations were known.