Morton always went to
church, and had no doubt of her own sincerity when she reiterated
her prayer that as she forgave others their trespasses, so might
she be forgiven hers. As Reginald Morton had certainly never
trespassed against her perhaps there was no reason why her thoughts
should be carried to the necessity of forgiving him.
The Paragon wrote two very diplomatic notes, explaining his
temporary residence and expressing his great desire to become
acquainted with his neighbours. Neither of the two clergymen were
offended, and both of them promised to eat his dinner on Monday.
Mr. Mainwaring was very fond of dining out, and would have gone
almost to any gentleman's house. Mr. Cooper had been enough in the
neighbourhood to have known the old squire, and wrote an
affectionate note expressing his gratification at the prospect of
renewing his acquaintance with the little boy whom he remembered.
So the party was made up for Monday. John Morton was very nervous
on the matter, fearing that Lady Augustus would think the land to
be barren.
The Friday passed by without much difficulty. The Senator was
driven about, and everything was inquired into. One or two farm
houses were visited, and the farmers' wives were much disturbed by
the questions asked them. "I don't think they'd get a living in the
States," was the Senator's remark after leaving one of the
homesteads in which neither the farmer nor his wife had shown much
power of conversation.
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