The Magician's Sons

Chapter 50

They were being merged into one large family. The Harts visited the Sterlings's home several times a week. Each time, things grew lively and rambunctious in the house. Strange as it seemed to both Norman and Copernicus, it wasn't strange at all to Jasper. In their childhood, he and his cousin, Mr. Hart, had lived like brothers. It seemed only natural to them that they should finally pull their resources and knowledge together and manage the same profession. So, they combined their separate factories under one business, and at the same time, they linked their families together as well.

There was a glow of excitement and cheer brightening Copper's life now. It had been quite some time since Norman's inconsiderate remark had stung him with shame. Since then, that hurtful incident had been forgotten. The Harts never acknowledged the fact that Copernicus was a lowly scamp taken in out of charity. Mr. Hart regarded him with a grandfatherly fondness; the children played with him as if he had been another brother; and Reuben and his wife treated him with the same warmth which they showed their own children. It was as if this large family had instantly become his own.

Although he liked all of the Harts very well, Copernicus couldn't help feeling some favor toward Reuben. The man was midway between a brother and an uncle to him. He was old enough to be the child's father, and yet he had no pride to demand a fearful amount of respect from the boy. The respect came to Copper naturally because everything about Reuben was honorable and good.

In the midst of this, Norman was just as happy as Copernicus. He felt the same fondness toward this jovial family. He even accepted dull Mr. Hart and decided to like him too. With so many well-meaning new friends, he couldn't even think about returning to the guild. In comparison to these pure companions, the guild's haughty youths and greedy leaders began to seem distasteful to him. Ever since his father's return from Yorkshire, he had carefully concealed his involvement with those aristocrats from Jasper; now he was more determined to hide it than ever. He liked Reuben and the rest of the Harts far better than he had ever liked Blair, Duncan, or Bartholomew. The more time he spent with his relatives, the more he knew that his acquaintance with those swearing, drunken nobles would have made them all turn pale with shame.

Norman was even beginning to relinquish his vague hope of renewing a connection with Lord Slyfield. It was hard to give up such a marvelous dream. But he wasn't giving up the thought of future success and fame altogether. The truth was, his relatives were wealthier and more influential than he had guessed. They had every connection and every possibility to bring Norman to greatness someday. And striving to please them gave him peace rather than guilt.

There were two things warring within Norman's heart at that time. Reuben was pulling him carefully but steadily toward the lighted path which God sets before his followers. It was a path which felt like home to the youth's spirit. But it was a foreign realm to his flesh. While his heart yearned to follow all that was good, his prideful nature still stood against it, longing to crawl back into its familiar, dark hole of corruption. And, while he daily found himself feeling fonder of the scamp he had rescued, he also felt a sting of bitterness and envy rising up inside of him.

What wasn't there to like about Copernicus? He was the most well-meaning child. He looked up to Norman in admiration. There was never a moment when the boy wasn't eager to please his rescuer. For that reason, Norman often wished to befriend him, to be the hero Copper thought he was. But there was something about the street urchin which Norman had never expected: the lad had a conscience and heart that was far stronger than his own.

Now that Copper had known the difference between light and darkness and had found out how sweet God's mercy was, he was determined to be good. He didn't seem to struggle between right and wrong the way Norman did. This wouldn't have mattered so much to the youth, but he couldn't help noticing how deep his father's love for the righteous boy was growing. Jasper was proud of Copernicus. He had only good things to say about him. On the other hand, it seemed that Norman was forever being scolded for his moods and selfish ways.