The fact had been always there, but it had never meant anything substantial to him till now.

Now, at last, that complete dearth of love, in which he had lived since his father died, began to react in revolt and discontent.
The crisis may have been long preparing, those words of his uncle as to his future, as well as the incident of their locking out, may have had something to say to it.

Anyway, a new reflective temper set in.

The young immature creature became self-conscious, began to feel the ferments of growth.

The ambition and the restlessness his father had foreseen, with dying eyes, began to stir.
Reuben's qualms returned upon him.