But the rest seem to have looked upon him as a somewhat desultory and erratic young genius, who might or might not turn out well.

For their immediate purpose, the Schools, and Church or State preferment, he seemed hardly the fittest man.
The gentlemen-commoners of Christ Church were a puzzle to Mrs.Ruskin; noblemen of sporting tastes, who rode and betted and drank, and got their impositions written "by men attached to the University for the purpose, at 1s.6d.to 2s.6d., so you have only to reckon how much you will give to avoid chapel." And yet they were very nice fellows.

If they began by riding on John's back round the quad, they did not give him the cold shoulder--quite the reverse.

He was asked everywhere to wine; he beat them all at chess; and they invaded him at all hours.

"It does little good sporting _his_ oak," wrote his mother, describing how Lord Desart and Grimston climbed in through his window while he was hard at work.