Eager laughed joyously at his disappointment.
"Why, they swam like ducks the very first day. You really have no idea what fine lads they are, sir. They are lads to be proud of."
"Ay--if there was but one."
"It's a thousand pities we can't find the right way out of the muddle without thinking of such things."
"We cannot," said the old man grimly.
[CHAPTER XV]
DIVERGING LINES
As time went on, however, Eager's careful oversight of the boys began to note slight points of divergence in the lines of their characteristics, which had so far run absolutely side by side.
Jack, for instance, began to develop a somewhat tentative kind of self-control. His brain seemed to become more active. At times he even attempted to subject Jim to discipline for lapses from his own view of the right way of things. And Jim took him on right joyously; and the pitched battles, which Eager had been striving to relegate to the background, were renewed with vehemence, within the strict limits of the new rules thereto ordained.
Gracie was distressed at this falling away. But Eager bade her be of good cheer, and watched developments with interest. Meanwhile, the boys muscles and skill in self-defence grew mightily.