Perhaps it latter trait in Wilson's conduct, conjoined identity of name, mere accident having entered the school same day, which set afloat the notion that we were brothers, senior classes academy These usually inquire with much strictness affairs juniors before said, or said, that Wilson was not, most remote degree, connected with my family But assuredly brothers been twins; for, after leaving Dr Bransby's, I casually learned that my namesake was born nineteenth of January, 1813 -- and somewhat remarkable coincidence; day is precisely that own nativity

It may seem strange that continual anxiety occasioned me rivalry of Wilson, intolerable spirit of contradiction, bring myself to hate him altogether We had, , nearly every day quarrel , yielding me publicly the palm of victory, he, in some manner, contrived me feel he who had deserved it; yet sense of pride on my part, and veritable dignity own, kept us always upon called "speaking terms," while there were many points of strong congeniality tempers, operating to awake me in sentiment which our position alone, perhaps, prevented from ripening into friendship difficult, indeed, to define, or even to describe, my real feelings towards him They formed motley and heterogeneous admixture; -- some petulant animosity, not yet hatred, some esteem, more respect, much fear, with world of uneasy curiosity moralist unnecessary , , that Wilson and myself were the most inseparable of companions

the anomalous state of affairs existing , which turned all my attacks upon him, ( were many, either open or covert) channel of banter or practical joke (giving pain while assuming the aspect of mere fun) rather than into more serious and determined hostility But my endeavours head were by no means uniformly successful, even when my plans were the most wittily concocted; namesake had much about him, in character, unassuming and quiet austerity which, while enjoying the poignancy own jokes, has no heel of Achilles in itself, and absolutely refuses laughed at find, indeed, but one vulnerable point, , lying in personal peculiarity, arising, perhaps, from constitutional disease, spared by any antagonist less at his wit's end than myself; -- my rival had weakness faucal or guttural organs, which precluded him from raising his voice at above very low whisper defect fall what poor advantage lay in my power

Wilson's retaliations in kind were many; and one form practical wit that disturbed me beyond measure How his sagacity first discovered at all that so petty thing would vex me, is question I never could solve; but, having discovered, he habitually practised the annoyance I had always felt aversion to my uncourtly patronymic, and its very common, plebeian praenomen The words were venom in my ears; and when, day arrival, second William Wilson came also academy, angry for bearing the name, and doubly disgusted name because stranger bore it, the cause twofold repetition, constantly in my presence, and whose concerns, ordinary routine school business, must inevitably, on account detestable coincidence, be often confounded with my own

The feeling of vexation thus engendered grew stronger with every circumstance tending to show resemblance, moral or physical, between my rival and myself I then discovered the remarkable fact that we were same age; but that we were same height, and I perceived that we were even singularly alike in general contour of person and outline of feature galled, too, rumor touching relationship, which had grown current upper forms In word, nothing could more seriously disturb me, although I scrupulously concealed such disturbance,) than any allusion to similarity of mind, person, or condition existing But, in truth, I had no reason that ( exception matter of relationship, and case of Wilson himself,) this similarity had ever been made subject of comment, or even observed at all by our schoolfellows That he observed it in all its bearings, and as fixedly as I, was apparent; but that discover circumstances so fruitful field of annoyance, can only be attributed, as before, more than ordinary penetration

His cue, to perfect an imitation of myself, lay both in words and in actions; and most admirably did he play his part My dress an easy matter to copy; my gait and general manner were, without difficulty, appropriated; constitutional defect, even my voice escape him My louder tones were, , unattempted, but then the key, identical; singular whisper, it grew the very echo own

How greatly this most exquisite portraiture harassed me, ( justly be termed caricature,) now venture to describe I had but one consolation -- fact imitation, apparently, was noticed alone, I had to endure only the knowing and strangely sarcastic smiles namesake himself Satisfied with having produced in my bosom the intended effect, to chuckle in secret over the sting he had inflicted, and was characteristically disregardful public applause which the success witty endeavours so easily elicited school, indeed, feel his design, perceive its accomplishment, and participate sneer, was, for many anxious months, riddle resolve Perhaps the gradation copy rendered it not so readily perceptible; or, more possibly, I owed my security master air copyist, who, disdaining the letter, (which in painting is all the obtuse ,) gave but the full spirit original individual contemplation and chagrin

already more than once spoken disgusting air of patronage which he assumed toward me, and frequent officious interference withy my will This interference often took the ungracious character of advice; advice not openly given, but hinted or insinuated I received it with repugnance which gained strength as I grew in years Yet, distant day, let me do him the simple justice to acknowledge that recall no occasion suggestions rival were side errors or follies so usual immature age and seeming inexperience; that his moral sense, , his general talents and worldly wisdom, was far keener than my own; , to-day, better, and thus happier man, had I less frequently rejected the counsels embodied in those meaning whispers which I then but too cordially hated and too bitterly despised

As , I grew restive extreme under his distasteful supervision, and daily resented more and more openly what I considered his intolerable arrogance said that, first years connexion as schoolmates, my feelings in regard to him easily ripened into friendship: but, latter months residence academy, although the intrusion ordinary manner had, beyond doubt, in some measure, abated, my sentiments, in nearly similar proportion, partook of positive hatred Upon one occasion this, , and afterwards avoided, or made show of avoiding me

same period, if I remember aright, that, in an altercation of violence , more than usually thrown off his guard, and spoke and acted with an openness of demeanor rather foreign nature, I discovered, or fancied I discovered, accent, his air, and general appearance, something which first startled, and then deeply interested me, by bringing to mind dim visions earliest infancy -- wild, confused and thronging memories of time when memory herself was yet unborn better describe the sensation which oppressed me than by saying that with difficulty shake off the belief having been acquainted being who stood before me, at some epoch very -- some point past even infinitely remote The delusion, however, faded rapidly as it came; and I mention it at all but to define the day last conversation I there held with my singular namesake

The huge old house, with its countless subdivisions, had several large chambers communicating with , where slept the greater number students There were, however, (as must necessarily happen in building so awkwardly planned,) many little nooks or recesses, the odds and ends structure; and these the economic ingenuity of Dr Bransby had also fitted up as dormitories; although, being the merest closets, they were capable of accommodating but single individual small apartments was occupied by Wilson