"But I minded, John.

I hated it." He would say no more.

He had now had, as concerned Tom, three advisers.
He kept his own counsel, with the not unusual reticence of a boy.

He did not wish to be pitied on account of what he did not consider defeat, and wanted no one to discuss it.

He was better pleased when a week later the English groom talked to him after the boxing-lesson.