He was narrow across the chest, and shaky about the knees, though we youngsters held him too much in awe to take this into account at the time.

To the big boys of the sixth form Bob was cringing and snivelling; nothing was too menial, so only as he could keep in their good graces.

If he had known how, I dare say he would have blacked their boots or parted their hair; as it was, he laid himself out to fetch and carry, to go and come just as their lordships should direct; and their lordships, I have a notion, winked at one another and gave him plenty to do.
But to us youngsters Bob was wholly different.

For one of us to come so much as across his path was sufficient provocation to his spite.

Like a spider in its web, he would waylay and capture the wretched small fry of our school and haul them away to his den.