He implored her to write once, so that the money owing her might be forwarded, but even this bribe did not move her, and he set off for school most gloomily.
Cathro was specially aggravating that day, nagged him, said before the whole school that he was a numskull, even fell upon him with the tawse, and for no earthly reason except that Tommy would not bother his head with the _oratio obliqua_.

If there is any kind of dominie more maddening than another, it is the one who will not leave you alone (ask any thoughtful boy).

How wretched the lot of him whose life is cast among fools not capable of understanding him; what was that saying about entertaining angels unawares?
London! Grizel had more than sufficient money to take two there, and once in London, a wonder such as himself was bound to do wondrous things.

Now that he thought of it, to become a minister was abhorrent to him; to preach would be rather nice, oh, what things he should say (he began to make them up, and they were so grand that he almost wept), but to be good after the sermon was over, always to be good (even when Elspeth was out of the way), never to think queer unsayable things, never to say Stroke, never, in short, to "find a way"-- he was appalled.

If it had not been for Elspeth-- So even Elspeth did not need him.