It seemed to him, perhaps not unnaturally, that
he had been robbed of an inheritance. He had no title deeds, as had
the owners of the property; but his ancestors before him, from
generation to generation, had lived by managing the Bragton
property. They had drawn the leases, and made the wills, and
collected the rents, and had taught themselves to believe that a
Morton could not live on his land without a Masters. Now there was
a Morton who did not live on his land, but spent his rents
elsewhere without the aid of any Masters, and it seemed to the old
lawyer that all the good things of the world had passed away. He
had married twice, his first wife having, before her marriage, been
well known at Bragton Park. When she had died, and Mr. Masters had
brought a second wife home, Lady Ushant took the only child of the
mother, whom she had known as a girl, into her own keeping, till
she also had been compelled to leave Bragton. Then Mary Masters had
returned to her father and stepmother.
The Bragton Park residence is a large, old-fashioned, comfortable
house, but by no means a magnificent mansion. The greater part of
it was built one hundred and fifty years ago, and the rooms are
small and low. In the palmy days of his reign, which is now more
than half a century since, the old squire made alterations, and
built new stables and kennels, and put up a conservatory; but what
he did then has already become almost old-fashioned now.
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