Boys were so brutal in their intercourse with each other.

He had even thought it better represent Philip to Mr.Plaskwith as a more distant relation than he was; and he begged, by the by, that Catherine would tell Philip to take the hint.
But as for Sidney, sooner or later, he would go to a day-school--have companions of his own age--if his birth were known, he would be exposed to many mortifications--so much better, and so very easy, to bring him up as the lawful, that is the legal, offspring of some distant relation.
"And," cried poor Catherine, clasping her bands, "when I am dead, is he never to know that I was his mother ?" The anguish of that question thrilled the heart of the listener.

He was affected below all the surface that worldly thoughts and habits had laid, stratum by stratum, over the humanities within.

He threw his arms round Catherine, and strained her to his breast: "No, my sister--my poor sister-he shall know it when he is old enough to understand, and to keep his own secret.

He shall know, too, how we all loved and prized you once; how young you were, how flattered and tempted; how you were deceived, for I know that--on my soul I do--I know it was not your fault.