But he did get from his father a capacity for the knowing and handling of machinery, which amounted almost to genius.
Of the father's steadiness under the grind of daily work which had made him the head mechanic in the Mill, Tony possessed not a tittle.

What he could get easily he got, and getting this fancied himself richly endowed, knowing not how slight and superficial is the equipment for life's stern fight that comes without sweat of brain and body.

His cleverness deceived first himself and then his family, who united in believing him to be destined for high place and great things.

Only two of those who had to do with him in his boyhood weighed him in the balance of truth.

One was his Public School master, who labored with incessant and painful care to awaken in him some glimmer of the need of preparation for that bitter fight to which every man is appointed.