If you don't try to learn what is more necessary than anything for a Christian," said his father, getting up, "whatever can interest you? I am displeased with you, and Piotr Ignatitch" (this was the most important of his teachers) "is displeased with you....

I shall have to punish you.

" His father and his teacher were both displeased with Seryozha, and he certainly did learn his lessons very badly.

But still it could not be said he was a stupid boy.

On the contrary, he was far cleverer than the boys his teacher held up as examples to Seryozha.