He had passed his examinations, most unexpectedly to himself, with a respectable percentage to spare.

There was a time when he would have been ashamed of this meagre result.

He was now, just a little, but the feeling was somewhat submerged in his gratitude at having "squeaked through" at all.
A certain inspired Professor Hope, who wondered what effect encouragement would have on a fellow who did n't deserve any, but might possibly need it, came up to him after recitations, one day, and said:-- "Noble, I want to congratulate you on your papers in history and physics.

They show signal ability.

There is a plentiful lack of study evinced, but no want of grasp or power.