“Roderick Steele, Master of History, had lately become conscious that he was older than his students' parents. Earlier they had condescended to him. Now they began to humor him with contrived solicitudes, occasional gifts, Christmas biblelots from catalogues. On campus the conventional wisdom was that he was a tough grader, unassailably learned and incorruptible. His commitment to his work and to St. Matthew's was absolute. His appearance in its austerity suited his reputation.”