In the meanwhile, when Amos was five years old, another son was born at Flixworth Manor.  The baby was christened Walter, and nearly all the love that was the share of the elder brother was poured by both father and mother on the younger son.  Years rolled on, and when our story opens Amos was twenty-two years of age.  He had passed creditably through the university course at Oxford, but had not settled down to any profession.  Walter was seventeen; his father's delight and constant companion in his holidays; full of life, energy, and fun, with an unlimited good opinion of himself, and a very limited good opinion of his brother; while all around who knew him only a little were loud in his praises, which were not, however, echoed by those who knew him more thoroughly.  At present he was remaining at home, after completing his school education, neither his father nor himself being able to make up their minds as to the sphere in which his abilities would shine the best.