He was not sorry, because it was not his fault, but in his childish way he coldly excused her, and, more from a queer consciousness of blighterdom than from dread of her hand and tongue, he avoided her as much as possible.

In the little Buttons his experience as scapegoat taught him to take but little interest.

From his earliest memories they were the first to be fed, clothed and bedded; to his own share fell the exiguous scraps.

As they were much younger than himself, he found no pleasure in their companionship.

For society he sought such of the youth of Budge Street as would admit him into their raucous fellowship.