His growing life was his sole impulsive after knowledge.

And already he saw a glimmer here and there in regions of mathematics from which had never fallen a ray into the corner of an eye of those grinding men.

That was because he read books of poetry and philosophy of which they had never heard.

For the rest, he passed his examinations creditably, and indeed, in more than one case, with unexpected as unsought distinction.

I must mention, however, that he did all his set work first, and thoroughly, before giving himself what he hungered after.
Of society in the city he had no knowledge.