If I shy my boots at a fellow's head, is he likely to domineer?
If I kick a small boy who contradicts me, is he likely to be opinionated and dogmatic?
If I eat up my fag's plum-cake just sent by his mamma, hot, as it were, from the maternal heart, and moist with a mother's tears, is that fag likely to be selfish?
Not at all.

The boots, and the kicking, and the general walloping make him manly.

It teaches him to govern his temper and hold his tongue.

I swear I should like to have a fag!" perorated Abel, meaning that he should like to be the holy office, and to have Gabriel Bennet immediately delivered up to him for discipline.
Once Gabriel overheard this kind of conversation in the play-ground, as Abel Newt and some of the other boys were resting after a game at ball.
There were no personal allusions in what Abel had said, but Gabriel took him up a little curtly: "Pooh! Abel, how would you like to have Gyles Blanding shy his boots at your head ?" Abel looked at him a moment, sarcastically.

Then he replied: "My young friend, I should like to see him try it.