His irritation had had time to subside; the stolid indifference had got possession of him again.

He had resumed his chair--he sat, with outstretched legs, staring stupidly at the pattern on the carpet.

"What does it matter to Me ?" was the sentiment expressed all over him, from head to foot.
The surgeon went on.
"I can see no remedy for this sad state of things," he said, "as long as the public feeling remains what the public feeling is now.

A fine healthy-looking young man, with a superb muscular development, longs (naturally enough) to distinguish himself like others.

The training-authorities at his college, or elsewhere, take him in hand (naturally enough again) on the strength of outward appearances.