Morton, saying that that
gentleman would see him in the course of the next fortnight.
CHAPTER VIII
The Paragon's Party at Bragton
There was certainly a great deal of fuss made about John Morton's
return to the home of his ancestors,--made altogether by himself
and those about him, and not by those who were to receive him. On
the Thursday in the week following that of which we have been
speaking, two carriages from the Bush met the party at the Railway
Station and took them to Bragton. Mr. Runciman, after due
consideration, put up with the inconsiderate nature of the order
given, and supplied the coaches and horses as required,--consoling
himself no doubt with the reflection that he could charge for the
unreasonableness of the demand in the bill. The coachman and butler
had come down two days before their master, so that things might be
in order. Mrs. Hopkins learned from the butler that though the
party would at first consist only of three, two other very august
persons were to follow on the Saturday,--no less than Lady Augustus
Trefoil and her daughter Arabella. And Mrs. Hopkins was soon led to
imagine, though no positive information was given to her on the
subject, that Miss Trefoil was engaged to be married to their
Master. "Will he live here altogether, Mr, Tankard?" Mrs. Hopkins
asked.
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