"
John Morton passed by the calumny which he had heard before, and
which he knew that it was no good for him to attempt to subvert.
"He was received here as one of the family, ma'am."
"I know he was; and with what result?"
"I don't think that I ought to turn my back upon him because my
great-grandfather left property away from me to him. It would give
me a bad name in the county. It would be against me when I settle
down to live here. I think quarrelling is the most foolish thing a
man can do,--especially with his own relations."
"I can only say this, John;--let me know if he is coming, so that I
may not be called upon to meet him. I will not eat at table with
Reginald Morton." So saying the old lady, in a stately fashion,
stalked out of the room.
CHAPTER IX
The Old Kennels
On the next morning Mrs. Morton asked her grandson what he meant to
do with reference to his suggested invitation to Reginald. "As you
will not meet him of course I have given up the idea," he said. The
"of course" had been far from true. He had debated the matter very
much with himself. He was an obstinate man, with something of
independence in his spirit. He liked money, but he liked having his
own way too. The old lady looked as though she might live to be a
hundred,--and though she might last only for ten years longer, was
it worth his while to be a slave for that time? And he was by no
means sure of her money, though he should be a slave.
Pages:
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91