When the two sons, Michael and Gilbert, were about from twenty-one to twenty-three, both quarrelled with their father, and cleared out of this neighbourhood altogether; it's always believed that Sir Alexander gave Michael a fair lot of money to go and do for himself, each hating the other's society, and that Michael went off to America.

As to Gilbert, he got money at that time, too, and went south, and was understood to be first a medical student and then a doctor, in London and abroad.

There is no doubt at all that both sons did get money--considerable amounts,--because from the time they went away, no allowance was ever paid to them, nor did Sir Alexander ever have any relations with them.
What the cause of the quarrel was, nobody knows; but the quarrel itself, and the ensuing separation, were final--father and sons never resumed relations.

And when the daughter, now Mrs.Ralston of Craig, near here, grew up and married, old Sir Alexander pursued a similar money policy towards her--he presented her with thirty thousand pounds the day she was married, and told her she'd never have another penny from him.

I tell you, he was a queer man." "Queer lot altogether!" muttered Mr.Lindsey.