Real education he never had had.

Bred up at home under his father, a rich merchant, he had gone to college with a large stock of general information, and a particular mania for dried plants, fossils, butterflies, and sketching, and some such creed as this:-- That he was very clever.
That he ought to make his fortune.
That a great many things were very pleasant--beautiful things among the rest.
That it was a fine thing to be 'superior,' gentleman-like, generous, and courageous.
That a man ought to be religious.
And left college with a good smattering of classics and mathematics, picked up in the intervals of boat-racing and hunting, and much the same creed as he brought with him, except in regard to the last article.

The scenery-and-natural-history mania was now somewhat at a discount.

He had discovered a new natural object, including in itself all--more than all--yet found beauties and wonders--woman! Draw, draw the veil and weep, guardian angel! if such there be.

What was to be expected?
Pleasant things were pleasant--there was no doubt of that, whatever else might be doubtful.