Where are such men to-day!" He was, therefore, in spite of his love for outdoor pursuits, a cultured man.
It was natural, perhaps, that he should find Hugh Seymour "a pity." Nearly everything that he said about Hugh Seymour began with the words---- "It's a pity that----" "It's a pity that you can't get some red into your cheeks, my boy." "It's a pity you don't care about porridge.

You must learn to like it." "It's a pity you can't even make a little progress with your mathematics." "It's a pity you told me a lie because----" "It's a pity you were rude to Mrs.Lasher.No gentleman----" "It's a pity you weren't attending when----" Mr.Lasher was, very earnestly, determined to do his best for the boy, and, as he said, "You see, Hugh, if we do our best for you, you must do your best for us.

Now I can't, I'm afraid, call this your best." Hugh would have liked to say that it _was_ the best that he could do in that particular direction (very probably Euclid), but if only he might be allowed to try his hand in quite _another_ direction, he might do something very fine indeed.

He never, of course, had a chance of saying this, nor would such a declaration have greatly benefited him, because, for Mr.Lasher, there was only one way for every one and the sooner (if you were a small boy) you followed it the better.
"Don't dream, Hugh," said Mr.Lasher, "remember that no man ever did good-work by dreaming.

The goal is to the strong.