most of his younger gentlemen , indeed most of the corps , were drawn from the ranks of what could only be called the shabby-genteel , and laurence knew they were inclined to think him higher than he did himself : his father kept a grand state , certainly , but laurence had not spent three months together at home since taking to sea , without much sorrow on either side , except perhaps his mother 's , and was better accustomed to a hanging berth than a manor .