For I was quite sure she was referring to my nervous desire to do everything correctly at the new school; and it grieved me that she should speak of it as trying to be something I was not.
Of course I would remember all she said.

There was not much fear of my being led astray; it was much more likely that I, as an exhibitioner, would be looked up to by some of the ordinary small boys to show them a lead.

What with Tempest to befriend me at headquarters, and my prestige as a scholar, and the fact that I knew a pretty good deal about school already, it was as likely as not I might be instrumental in helping one or two lame dogs over the stiles of their first term.
My only travelling companion was a motherly sort of person of the farmer class, who eyed me affectionately--too affectionately to please me--and attempted to condole with me on the sorrow of leaving home.
"Never mind, dearie," said she--Cheek! for a stranger to call a chap "dearie." "You'll be a bit lonely at first, so you will; but you'll get used to it, and it won't be so long to holiday time, and then you'll see mamma again." I wished she wouldn't.

She misunderstood me.

I wasn't thinking about the holidays at all.