Once or twice he had dined at the great house; but Lady Clavering had declared him to be a bore, and Sir Hugh had called him "that most offensive of all animals, a clerical prig." It had therefore been decided that he was not to be asked to the great house any more.

It may be as well to state here, as elsewhere, that Mr.Clavering very rarely went to his nephew's table.

On certain occasions he did do so, so that there might be no recognized quarrel between him and Sir Hugh; but such visits were few and far between.
After a few more words from Mr.Saul, and a glance from his wife's eye, Mr.Clavering consented to go to Cumberly Green, though there was nothing he liked so little as a morning spent with his curate.

When he had started, Harry told his mother also of his final decision.

"I shall go to Stratton to-morrow and settle it all." "And what does papa say ?" asked the mother.
"Just what he has said before.