I did serve him for years, and for next to no payment, but he taught me nothing more than he could help.

He was one of those heartless, utterly selfish men that one meets too often in the business world.

I ought never to have been sent there, for my father had always an ill opinion of him; but he pretended a friendly interest in me--just, I am convinced, to make the use of me that he did.' He was silent, and began rowing again.
'What happened them ?' asked Monica.
'I mustn't make out that I was a faultless boy,' he continued, with the smile that graved wrinkles about his eyes; 'quite the opposite.

I had a good deal of my father's temper; I often behaved very badly to my mother; what I needed was some stern but conscientious man to look after me and make me work.

In my spare time I lay about on the shore, or got into mischief with other boys.