Will you believe that this individual was the express and almost sole object of my envy?
He was more than my rival, he was my superior; and I hated him with all the unleavened bitterness of my soul.
I have said he was my superior: it was in one thing.

He could balance a stick, nay, a cricket-bat, a poker, upon his chin, and I could not; you laugh, and so can I now, but it was no subject of laughter to me then.

This circumstance, trifling as it may appear to you, poisoned my enjoyment.

The boy saw my envy, for I could not conceal it; and as all fools are malicious, and most fools ostentatious, he took a particular pride and pleasure in displaying his dexterity and showing off my discontent.

You can form no idea of the extent to which this petty insolence vexed and disquieted me.