This Solomon might be a suitor who was backed by the old man, but certainly not encouraged by Harry.

Was she already engaged to him, tacitly or otherwise?
It was impossible, being what she was, that she should not have been wooed by somebody.
Richard Yorke was not one of those exacting characters who demand that the object of their affections should never have attracted those of another; he was even reasonable enough to have forgiven her (if necessary) for having returned them, in ignorance of the existence of a more worthy admirer in himself.

There are many more varieties of Love than even the poets have classified; and perhaps it is in despair of dealing with this Proteus that we elders so often ignore him in our calculations.
The day was darkening by the time Richard reached the village.

Around the inn door were a group of miners, who stared at his bare head hard enough, but gave way to him civilly.

They were talking and laughing loudly, and wiping their mouths with the backs of their hands.