Such was the nature of their society, boys generally went from being children to gentlemen with no transition. He supposed Narcissus had been a gentleman (shy of being a duck) before, but Clue hadn't thought of him that way. They were all just schoolboys. Until some of them weren't.

"Well, it won't happen to me", he countered, and set about gently closing his trunk so Sable and her brood could settle into their new home. "Once a runt, always a runt, that's what they say." He didn't sound bitter or resentful — just coldly matter-of-fact.