Whatever Macrinus demanded of him he was sure to perform.

Whatever longings he might feel to return to home, he never discovered them; he never sought to gratify the tastes naturally peculiar to his age.

The high priest and his colleagues were astonished at the extraordinary readiness with which the boy himself forwarded their intentions for him.

Had they known how elaborately he had been prepared for his future employments at his father's house, they would have been less astonished at their pupil's unusual docility.

Trained as he had been, he must have shown a more than human perversity had he displayed any opposition to his uncle's wishes.