He could not see his obligations to the dead Crawfords as his father did.

He considered his life his own.

It had come to him with certain tastes, which he meant to improve and gratify, for only in that way was life of any value to him.
The laird laid the letter in Tallisker's hands without a word.

He was almost broken-hearted.

He had not yet got to that point where money-making for money's sake was enough.