"I gather from your uncle--by the way, I suppose we had better speak of
you as uncle and nephew, instead of going into exact relationship? In
fact, your uncle is so old and dear a friend, that, with your permission,
I shall drop formality with you altogether and speak of you and to you as
Adam, as though you were his son."

"I should like," answered the young man, "nothing better!"

The answer warmed the hearts of both the old men, but, with the usual
avoidance of Englishmen of emotional subjects personal to themselves,
they instinctively returned to the previous question. Sir Nathaniel took
the lead.

"I understand, Adam, that your uncle has posted you regarding the
relationships of the Caswall family?"

"Partly, sir; but I understood that I was to hear minuter details from
you--if you would be so good."

"I shall be delighted to tell you anything so far as my knowledge goes.
Well, the first Caswall in our immediate record is an Edgar, head of the
family and owner of the estate, who came into his kingdom just about the
time that George III. did. He had one son of about twenty-four. There
was a violent quarrel between the two. No one of this generation has any
idea of the cause; but, considering the family characteristics, we may
take it for granted that though it was deep and violent, it was on the
surface trivial.

"The result of the quarrel was that the son left the house without a