The words and phrases that had passed current on the street seemed to ring false here.

He watched the judge covertly and took notes.
His progress at the academy was a singular succession of triumphs and failures.

His natural quickness, together with an enthusiastic ambition to get on, enabled him soon to take his place among the boys of his own age.

But a superabundance of high spirits and an inordinate love of fun caused many a dark entry on the debit side of his school ledger.

There were many times when he exasperated the judge to the limit of endurance, for he was reckless and impulsive, charged to the exploding-point with vitality, and ever and always the victim of his last caprice; but when it came to the final issue, and the judge put a question fairly before him, the boy was always on the side of right, even though it proved him guilty.
At first Mrs.Hollis had been strongly opposed to his remaining on the farm, but she soon became silent on the subject.