The general opinion was that he would never be as smart.

Many there were, even of those who had come in sore measure under Doctor Seth Prescott's autocratic thumb, who held in dismay the prospect of the transference of his sway to his son.
"Guess you'll see how this town will go down when the old doctor's gone and the young one's here in his place," they said.

It is the people who make tyranny possible.
"How far are you going ?" asked Lawrence, of Elmira flitting along beside his dancing mare.
"Oh, a little way," said she, evasively.
"How far ?" There was something of his father's insistence in Lawrence's voice.
"To Granby," replied Elmira then, and tried to speak on unconcernedly.

She was ashamed to let him know how far she had planned to walk because of her poverty.
"Granby!" cried Lawrence, with a whistle of astonishment; "why, that is seven miles farther! You are not going to walk to Granby and back to day ?" "I like to walk," said Elmira, timidly.
"Why, but it is a warm day, and you are breathing short now." Lawrence pulled the mare up with a sharp whoa.

"Now I'll tell you what I'll do," he said.