I am in hopes that he'll prove anything but that.

From the minute that a fellow enters the Military Academy he starts in life all over again.

So, remember, Greg, we won't be prepared to hate or distrust Dodge, and we'll lose a hand before we'll utter a word against him, based on anything that happened in the past." "That's the square deal, and the West Point ideal," nodded Greg, who was rapidly forgetting the letter, the fragments of which were now in his waste basket.

"Who knows but that, in this new atmosphere, Bert Dodge may turn out to be a man?
West Point will do that very thing for him, if any new surroundings can." As the battalion marched to supper that night Bert Dodge felt in his heart that hazing must already have started for him; for, being the only candidate left at West Point, and having no uniform as yet, Dodge was compelled to march, in his rather gay "cit." attire, at the extreme end of the battalion line.
Bert did not march quite alone, however.
Just behind him, majestic, unbending, lynx-eyed and exacting, marched Cadet Corporal Spurlock, who was known as the "worst" (strictest) of the Yearling cadet officers.
"Chest out, Mr.Dodge! Don't wobble so at the knees, sir! Can't you carry yourself straight?
Take your chin away from your chest, Mr.Dodge.Try to keep step, sir.

Follow my count--hep! hep! hep! hep! Mr.Dodge, you're out of step! When I call 'hep' put your left foot down, sir! But don't keep it down, sir!" added the exasperated cadet corporal in a furious undertone, as Bert came to a dead halt.