He had been sent for lately
by old Mrs. Morton,--for a purpose which if carried out would have
robbed him of all his good fortune,--but he could not remember
when, before that, he had even passed through the gateway. Now it
would all become familiar to him again. That pony of Runciman's was
pleasant in his paces, and he began to calculate whether the
innkeeper would part with the animal. He stood thus gazing at the
place for some minutes till he saw Reginald Morton in the distance
turning a corner of the road with Mary at his side. He had taken
her from the phaeton and had then insisted on her coming out with
him before she took off her hat. Mr. Masters as soon as he saw them
trotted off to Chowton Farm.
Finding Larry lounging at the little garden gate Mr. Masters got
off the pony and taking the young man's arm, walked off with him
towards Dillsborough Wood. He told all his news at once, almost
annihilating poor Larry by the suddenness of the blow. "Larry, Mr.
Reginald Morton has asked my girl to marry him, and she has
accepted him."
"The new squire!" said Larry, stopping himself on the path, and
looking as though a gentle wind would suffice to blow him over.
"I suppose it has been that way all along, Larry, though we have
not known it."
"It was Mr. Morton then that she told me of?"
"She did tell you?"
"Of course there was no chance for me if he wanted her.
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