And all this hurt Selwyn, and alarmed him, too, for he was slowly coming to the conclusion that he did not like Neergard, that he would never sign articles of partnership with him, and that even his formal associateship with the company was too close a relation for his own peace of mind.

But on Gerald's account he stayed on; he did not like to leave the boy alone for his sister's sake as well as for his own.
Matters drifted that way through early spring.

He actually grew to dislike both Neergard and the business of Neergard & Co .-- for no one particular reason, perhaps, but in general; though he did not yet care to ask himself to be more precise in his unuttered criticisms.
However, detail and routine, the simpler alphabet of the business, continued to occupy him.

He consulted both Neergard and Gerald as usual; they often consulted him or pretended to do so.

Land was bought and sold and resold, new projects discussed, new properties appraised, new mortgage loans negotiated; and solely because of his desire to remain near Gerald, this sort of thing might have continued indefinitely.