It does not much concern us to know how far back should be dated
the beginning of the connection between the Morton family and that
of Mr. Masters, the attorney; but it is certain that the first
attorney of that name in Dillsborough became learned in the law
through the patronage of some former Morton. The father of the
present Gregory Masters, and the grandfather, had been thoroughly
trusted and employed by old Reginald Morton, and the former of the
two had made his will. Very much of the stewardship and management
of the property had been in their hands, and they had thriven as
honest men, but as men with a tolerably sharp eye to their own
interests. The late Mr. Masters had died a few years before the
squire, and the present attorney had seemed to succeed to these
family blessings. But the whole order of things became changed.
Within a few weeks of the squire's death Mr. Masters found that he
was to be entrusted no further with the affairs of the property,
but that, in lieu of such care, was thrown upon him the task of
defending the will which he had made against the owner of the
estate. His father and grandfather had contrived between them to
establish a fairly good business, independently of Bragton, which
business, of course, was now his. As far as reading went, and
knowledge, he was probably a better lawyer than either of them; but
he lacked their enterprise and special genius, and the thing had
dwindled with him.
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