Neither thought sufficiently about what he was doing.

Newton was absorbed with other things, and Billy was thinking of nothing, and yet both he and Newton were duffers, which goes to prove that without care any one may belong to that class.
How many men who have begun life as reputed "duffers" have turned out great men! but you will find that none of them ever did themselves any good till they had cured themselves of that fault.

That's what you, and I, and Billy Bungle must all do, boys.
Just two words more about Billy.

We all liked him, as I have said, for he was imperturbably good-tempered.

He bore no malice for all our laughing, and now and then, when he was able to see the joke, would assist in laughing at himself.
And then he never tried to make himself out anything but what he was.
Of all detestable puppies, the duffer who tries to pass himself off for a clever man is the most intolerable; for nothing will convince him of his error, and nothing will keep him in his place.