I ought to have treated you as a small boy." "Well, I'm a very small boy, now," said Valentin.

"I'm rather less than an infant.

An infant is helpless, but it's generally voted promising.
I'm not promising, eh?
Society can't lose a less valuable member." Newman was strongly moved.

He got up and turned his back upon his friend and walked away to the window, where he stood looking out, but only vaguely seeing.

"No, I don't like the look of your back," Valentin continued.