The result of it was the bit of money in the bank, the prosperous farm, and the firm intention of the present farmer that his son should cut a figure in the world.
This stern man, as he trudged about at his labour, looked upon the activities of city life with that same inward eye with which the maiden looks forth upon her future; and as she, with nicety of preference, selects the sort of lover she will have, so he selected the sort of greatness which should befall his son.

The stuff of this vision was, as must always be, of such sort as had entered his mind in the course of his limited experience.

His grandfather had been an Englishman, and it was known that one of the sons had been a notable physician in the city of London: Caius must become a notable physician.

His newspaper told him of honours taken at the University of Montreal by young men of the medical school; therefore, Caius was to study and take honours.

It was nothing to him that his neighbours did not send their sons so far afield; he came of educated stock himself.