It was evident enough that his father-in-law elect had had some reasons of his own--probably in relation to the property he held under Carew--for conciliating this young gentleman; and "Sol" had taken it for granted they were good, that is, substantial, ones.

If these reasons no longer existed, the sooner this young gentleman was got rid of the better.

It was true he had behaved himself very civilly; but his presence among them had been, on the whole, oppressive.

"Sol" rather chafed at Richard's social superiority, though it was certainly never intruded, and, at all events, he preferred the society of his own class, among whom he felt himself qualified to take the lead.

But the idea of jealousy had never entered into his mind.