Tom had the democratic boy-belief that very refined manners imply lack of some other far more practical qualities, and thus to him and the Westways boys John Penhallow was simply an absurd Miss Nancy kind of lad, and it was long after the elders of the little town admired and liked him that the boys learned to respect him.

It was easy to see why the generous, good-tempered and pleasant lad failed to satisfy the town boys.

John had been sedulously educated into the belief that he was of a class to which these fellows did not belong, and of this the Squire had soon some suspicion when, obedient as always, John accepted his uncle's choice of his friend the doctor's son as a playmate.
He was having his hair cut when Tom McGregor came into the shop of Josiah, the barber.

"Wait a minute," said John.

"Are you through, Mr.
Josiah ?" Tom grinned, "Got a handle to your name ?" "Yes, because Master John is a gentleman." "Then I'll call you Mister too." "It won't ever make you Mister," said the barber, "that kind's born so." John disliked this outspoken expression of an opinion he shared.
"Nonsense," he said.