We presume ourselves to be truth-speaking, noble in our sentiments, generous in our actions, modest and unselfish, chivalrous and devoted.

But we forgive and pass over in silence a few delinquencies among ourselves.

What boy at school ever is a coward,--in the general?
What gentleman ever tells a lie?
What young lady is greedy?
We take it for granted, as though they were fixed rules in life, that our boys from our public schools look us in the face and are manly; that our gentlemen tell the truth as a matter of course; and that our young ladies are refined and unselfish.

Thackeray is always protesting that it is not so, and that no good is to be done by blinking the truth.

He knows that we have our little home experiences.