When this was arranged Reginald Morton again went to
Germany, and did not return till the lease had run out. By that
time Mr. Mainwaring, having spent a little money, found that the
rectory would be large enough for his small family. Then the Hall
was again untenanted for awhile, till, quite suddenly, Reginald
Morton returned to Dillsborough, and took up his permanent
residence in his own house.
It soon became known that the new-comer would not add much to the
gaiety of the place. The only people whom he knew in Dillsborough
were his own tenants, Mr. Runciman and Mr. Masters, and the
attorney's eldest daughter. During those months which he had spent
with Lady Ushant at Bragton, Mary had been living there, then a
child of twelve years old; and, as a child, had become his fast
friend. With his aunt he had, continually corresponded, and partly
at her instigation, and partly from feelings of his own, he had at
once gone to the attorney's house. This was now two years since,
and he had found in his old playmate a beautiful young woman, in
his opinion very unlike the people with whom she lived. For the
first twelvemonths he saw her occasionally,--though not indeed very
often. Once or twice he had drunk tea at the attorney's house, on
which occasions the drawing-room upstairs had been almost as grand
as it was uncomfortable.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55