And then she had been so wrong about Goarly, and Lord
Rufford had been so much better a client! And ready money had been
so much more plentiful of late, owing to poor John Morton's
ready-handed honesty! She had very little to say about it when Mary
packed her boxes and was taken in Mr. Runciman's fly to Bragton.
Since the old days, the old days of all, since the days to which
Reginald had referred when he asked her to pass over the bridge with
him, she had never yet walked about the Bragton grounds. She had often
been to the house, visiting Lady Ushant; but she had simply gone
thither and returned. And indeed, when the house had been empty, the
walk from Dillsborough to the bridge and back had been sufficient
exercise for herself and her sisters. But now she could go whither she
listed and bring her memory to all the old spots. With the tenacity as
to household matters which characterised the ladies of the country some
years since, Lady Ushant employed all her mornings and those of her
young friend in making inventories of everything that was found in the
house; but her afternoons were her own, and she wandered about with a
freedom she had never known before. At this time Reginald Morton was up
in London and had been away nearly a week. He had gone intending to be
absent for some undefined time, so that Lady Ushant and Mrs.
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