John Morton had told her that he had been
to Reginald's house, and she, in her wrath, replied that he had
disgraced himself by doing so. When those harsh words had been
forgotten, or at any rate forgiven, other causes of anger had
sprung up. She had endeavoured to drive him to repudiate Arabella
Trefoil, and in order that she might do so effectually had
contrived to find out something of Arabella's doings at Rufford and
at Mistletoe. Her efforts in this direction had had an effect
directly contrary to that which she had intended. There had been
moments in which Morton had been willing enough to rid himself of
that burden. He had felt the lady's conduct in his own house, and
had seen it at Rufford. He, too, had heard something of Mistletoe.
But the spirit within him was aroused at the idea of dictation, and
he had been prompted to contradict the old woman's accusation
against his intended bride, by the very fact that they were made by
her. And then she threatened him. If he did these things,--if he
would consort with an outcast from the family such as Reginald
Morton, and take to himself such a bride as Arabella Trefoil, he
could never more be to her as her child. This of course was
tantamount to saying that she would leave her money to some one
else,--money which, as he well knew, had all been collected from
the Bragton property.
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