The tales that these three tell, with the conversations arising out of them, form the subject matter of these _Tales of the Hall_.

Crabbe devised a very pleasant means of bringing the brother's visit to a close.

When the time originally proposed for the younger brother's stay is nearing its end, the brothers prepare to part.

At first, the younger is somewhat disconcerted that his elder brother seemed to take his departure so little to heart.

But this display of indifference proves to be only an amiable _ruse_ on the part of George.