Monsieur shrugged himself, and had no objection to the orderly behaviour of the house, whatever its motive, nor had anyone else whose opinion on such a matter was worth having.
Arthur and Sir Digby, as usual, came back brimful of lofty resolutions and ambitious schemes! Dig had considerably revised his time-table, and was determined to adhere to it like a martyr to his stake.
Arthur, though he came armed with no time-table, had his own good intentions.

He had had one or two painful conversations with his father, who had hurt him considerably by suggesting that he wasted a great deal of time, and neglected utterly those principles of self- improvement which had turned out men like Wellington, Dickens, Dr Livingstone, and Mr Elihu Burritt.

Arthur had seldom realised before how odious comparisons may become.

No doubt Wellington, Dickens, and Company were good fellows in their way, but he had never done them any harm.

Why should they be trotted out to injure him?
He thought he _was_ improving himself.