To "crib," to lie, or in any way to cheat or to do any unworthy act was, I believe, quite beyond his understanding.
Therefore, while his constant lack of interest in his studies goaded his teachers to despair, when it came to a question of stamping out wrongdoing on the part of the student body he was invariably found aligned on the side of the faculty.

Not that Richard in any way resembled a prig or was even, so far as I know, ever so considered by the most reprehensible of his fellow students.

He was altogether too red-blooded for that, and I believe the students whom he antagonized rather admired his chivalric point of honor even if they failed to imitate it.

As a schoolboy he was aggressive, radical, outspoken, fearless, usually of the opposition and, indeed, often the sole member of his own party.

Among the students at the several schools he attended he had but few intimate friends; but of the various little groups of which he happened to be a member his aggressiveness and his imagination usually made him the leader.