"
"You refuse then?"
"If Mr. Morton were to send for me, I should go to him instantly.
But I fear I might be slow in taking his instructions;--and it is
possible that I might refuse to act on them." Then she got up from
her chair and bowing to him with stately displeasure left the room.
All this she had done without any authority from her grandson,
simply encouraged in her object by his saying in his weakness, that
he would think of her proposition. So intent was she on her
business that she was resolved to have everything ready if only he
could once be brought to say that Peter Morton should be his heir.
Having abandoned all hopes for her noble cousin she could tell her
conscience that she was instigated simply by an idea of justice.
Peter Morton was at any rate the legitimate son of a well-born
father and a wellborn mother. What had she or any one belonging to
her to gain by it? But forty years since a brat had been born at
Bragton in opposition to her wishes,--by whose means she had been
expelled from the place; and now it seemed to her to be simple
justice that he should on this account be robbed of that which
would otherwise be naturally his own. As Mr. Masters would not
serve her turn she must write to the London lawyers. The thing
would be more difficult; but, nevertheless, if the sick man could
once be got to say that Peter should be his heir she thought that
she could keep him to his word.
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