Some of the youths were quite silent and pale, others endeavored to hide their agitation by laughing and talking quietly, and some affected to consider their nearest companion as more sure than themselves.

Even Hamilton was not free from a little nervousness, and though he talked away to Vernon Digby, who was sitting by him, he cast more than one fidgety glance at the red-covered table, and perceptibly changed color when the class-room door opened to allow the long train of ladies and gentlemen to enter, and closed after Dr.Wilkinson, and a few of his particular friends, among whom were two great scholars who had assisted in the examination of the past week.
When every one was comfortably settled, Dr.Wilkinson leaned forward over the table, and drew a paper towards him.

His preliminary "hem" was the signal for many fidgety motions on the forms in front of him, and every eye was riveted on him as he prefaced his distribution of the prizes by a short statement of his general satisfaction, and a slight notice of those particular points in which he could desire improvement.
He then spoke of his pleasure at the report his friends had made of the proficiency of the upper classes, and particularly alluding to the first class, stopped and mentioned by name those who had especially distinguished themselves.

Among these, as a matter of course, Hamilton stood foremost, and carried away the prize for Latin composition, as well as another.

Ferrers gained that for mathematics--and two other prizes were awarded to the next in order.