He saw too clearly the little vices and deceits and flaws of life, and, seeing them, it seemed to him honest to take notice of them.

That was the reason, no doubt, why people generally disliked him, and complained that he was heartless and bitter.

Certainly they never told him the things he wanted to be told, that he was nice and kind, and that they liked him.

But it was true that half the sharp things that he said about them were said because he was unhappy or hurt himself.

But he admitted that he had very seldom told any one that he cared for them, and when he had been demonstrative, he had generally regretted it afterwards.