And then, before
a week was over, early in March, Lady Ushant told the invalid that
she would be better away. "Mrs. Morton doesn't like me," she said,
"and I had better go. But I shall stay for a while at Hoppet Hall;
and come in and see you from time to time till you get better."
John Morton replied that he should never get better; but though he
said so then, there was at times evidence that he did not yet quite
despond as to himself. He could still talk to Mrs. Morton of buying
Chowton Farm, and was very anxious that he should not be forgotten
at the Foreign Office.
Lady Ushant had herself driven to Hoppet Hall, and there took up
her residence with her nephew. Every other day Mr. Runciman's fly
came for her and carried her backwards and forwards to Bragton. On
those occasions she would remain an hour with the invalid, and then
would go back again, never even seeing Mrs. Morton, though always
seen by her. And twice after this banishment Reginald walked over.
But on the second occasion there was a scene. Mrs. Morton to whom
he had never spoken since he was a boy, met him in the hall and
told him that his visits only disturbed his sick cousin. "I
certainly will not disturb him," Reginald had said. "In the
condition in which he is now he should not see many people,"
rejoined the lady. "If you will ask Dr.
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