Few
brothers loved one another more tenderly than they did, despite the
dissimilarity of habits, tastes, and occupations, and when they were
together, all the secrets of their hearts were usually unfolded.
Although Owen's wild roving nature had caused Rowland much anxiety,
still he had perfect confidence in his honest, open character. Owing to
early education Owen was not deficient in general acquirements. He knew
a little Latin and Greek, and could read, write, and cypher well. Added
to this, his knowledge of foreign lands was great, and of men and
manners greater. Under a careless exterior, he had a considerable
portion of talent and information, and Rowland was delighted to find in
his sea-faring, roystering brother, a much more cultivated and sensible
mind than he had expected. Rowland was beginning to be conscious of
wishing to see all his family superior to what they were. Placed by his
own profession amongst gentle-folks, and feeling in himself all the
refinement of the class so called, he was often annoyed and pained to be
differently situated from those who were nearest and dearest to him. He
knew that in London he was received as an equal by men and women of rank
and position, as well as by those of talent and learning; whereas, in
the country, even Miss Gwynne, at whose house he visited, considered it
a condescension to speak to him, whilst she looked upon those who
belonged to him as people of another sphere.
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