Whereas, by keeping Tom a coward, Richard Feverel was the injured one, and to seem injured is always a luxury; sometimes a necessity, whether among boys or men.
In Austin the Magian conflict would not have lasted long.

He had but a blind notion of the fierceness with which it raged in young Richard.
Happily for the boy, Austin was not a preacher.

A single instance, a cant phrase, a fatherly manner, might have wrecked him, by arousing ancient or latent opposition.

The born preacher we feel instinctively to be our foe.

He may do some good to the wretches that have been struck down and lie gasping on the battlefield: he rouses antagonism in the strong.