Mediocrity is our mark.

And perhaps it's just as well, since, for the most part, we cannot be certain of the effect of our actions." "I don't know about the effect," the other stood up to Marlow manfully.
"What effect did you expect anyhow?
I tell you he did something uncommonly kind." "He did what he could," Marlow retorted gently, "and on his own showing that was not a very great deal.

I cannot help thinking that there was some malice in the way he seized the opportunity to serve you.

He managed to make you uncomfortable.

You wanted to go to sea, but he jumped at the chance of accommodating your desire with a vengeance.