You've got to wonder what his diary entry for Angus' visit was like, "I am bitterly reminded of all my failures and my mentor is dead."

Angus who was his "best friend" in college (who Willie never liked!), and probably spent their entire academic career putting down Francie.

ETA: We have Francie saying that he had to as usually work three times as hard as everyone to just keep his grades up, but if his point of comparison is Angus, who is very academically smart, amoral and no little ruthless, well then. I don't think Francie is the most intellectual person ever, but I do wonder what long-term effect that friendship had on him. /ETA

You can probably hug at least the male Methodist.