And yet these are _not_ accidents; they are the slight indications which give an unerring proof of the general tendencies of his character and training.

Hence much of the apparent cruelty with which new boys are treated is not exactly intentional.

At first, of course, as they can have no friends worth speaking of, there are always plenty of coarse and brutal minds that take a pleasure in their torment, particularly if they at once recognise any innate superiority to themselves.

Of this class was Barker.

He hated Eric at first sight, simply because his feeble mind could only realise one idea about him, and that was the new boy's striking contrast with his own imperfections.