The one had trodden the path of virtue and laudable ambition; the other had just amused himself, and that in many reprehensible ways; and now, when the ripe age of manhood was attained in that state of life to which--as the Catechism would have it--it had pleased God to call them, it was Jim who was the useful and honoured man, not Caius.
It was clear that all the months and years of his absence had enabled his parents to do very well without their son.

They did not know it, but in all the smaller things that make up the most of life, his interests had ceased to be their interests.

Caius had the courage to realize that even at home he was not much wanted.

If, when Jim married Mabel, he would settle down with the old folks, they would be perfectly happy.
On his return, Caius had learned that the post for which he had applied in the autumn had not been awarded to him.

He knew that he must go as soon as possible to find out a good place in which to begin his professional life, but at present the state of his father's bad leg was so critical, and the medical skill of the neighbourhood so poor, that he was forced to wait.
All this time there was one main thought in his mind, to which all others were subordinate.