Wanting in animal spirits, he took but little pleasure in school sports; and being of a somewhat petulant temper, the bigger boys took pleasure in provoking him, and some of them in bullying him.

One of the bigger boys, however, conceiving a friendship for Martyn, took him under his protection, stood between him and his persecutors, and not only fought his battles for him, but helped him with his lessons.

Though Martyn was rather a backward pupil, his father was desirous that he should have the advantage of a college education, and at the age of about fifteen he sent him to Oxford to try for a Corpus scholarship, in which he failed.

He remained for two years more at the Truro Grammar School, and then went to Cambridge, where he was entered at St.John's College.

Who should he find already settled there as a student but his old champion of the Truro Grammar School?
Their friendship was renewed; and the elder student from that time forward acted as the Mentor, of the younger one.