She more than ever pointed out his excellences to her sons, contrasting his sterling qualities with Harry's love of pleasure (the wild boy!) and George's listless musings over his books.

George was not disposed to like Mr.Washington any better for his mother's extravagant praises.

He coaxed the jealous demon within him until he must have become a perfect pest to himself and all the friends round about him.

He uttered jokes so deep that his simple mother did not know their meaning, but sate bewildered at his sarcasms, and powerless what to think of his moody, saturnine humour.
Meanwhile, public events were occurring which were to influence the fortunes of all our homely family.

The quarrel between the French and English North Americans, from being a provincial, had grown to be a national, quarrel.