“I can only say this, John;—let me
know if he is coming, so that I may not be called
upon to meet him. I will not eat at table with
Reginald Morton.” So saying the old lady,
in a stately fashion, stalked out of the room.
The Old Kennels
On the next morning Mrs. Morton asked her grandson
what he meant to do with reference to his suggested
invitation to Reginald. “As you will not
meet him of course I have given up the idea,”
he said. The “of course” had been
far from true. He had debated the matter very
much with himself. He was an obstinate man, with
something of independence in his spirit. He liked
money, but he liked having his own way too. The
old lady looked as though she might live to be a hundred,—and
though she might last only for ten years longer, was
it worth his while to be a slave for that time?
And he was by no means sure of her money, though he
should be a slave. He almost made up his mind
that he would ask Reginald Morton. But then the
old lady would be in her tantrums, and there would
be the disagreeable necessity of making an explanation
to that inquisitive gentleman Mr. Elias Gotobed.
“I couldn’t have met him, John; I couldn’t
indeed. I remember so well all that occurred
when your poor infatuated great-grandfather would
have that woman into the house! I was forced to
have my meals in my bedroom, and to get myself taken
away as soon as I could get a carriage and horses.
After all that I ought not to be asked to meet the
child.”
“I was thinking of asking old Mr. Cooper on
Monday. I know she doesn’t go out.
And perhaps Mr. Mainwaring wouldn’t take it amiss.
Mr. Puttock, I know, isn’t at home; but if he
were, he couldn’t come.” Mr. Puttock
was the rector of Bragton, a very rich living, but
was unfortunately afflicted with asthma.
“Poor man. I heard of that; and he’s
only been here about six years. I don’t
see why Mr. Mainwaring should take it amiss at all.
You can explain that you are only here a few days.
I like to meet clergymen. I think that it is
the duty of a country gentleman to ask them to his
house. It shows a proper regard for religion.
By-the-bye, John, I hope that you’ll see that
they have a fire in the church on Sunday.”
The Honourable Mrs. Morton always went to church,
and had no doubt of her own sincerity when she reiterated
her prayer that as she forgave others their trespasses,
so might she be forgiven hers. As Reginald Morton
had certainly never trespassed against her perhaps
there was no reason why her thoughts should be carried
to the necessity of forgiving him.
The Paragon wrote two very diplomatic notes, explaining
his temporary residence and expressing his great desire
to become acquainted with his neighbours. Neither
of the two clergymen were offended, and both of them
promised to eat his dinner on Monday. Mr. Mainwaring
was very fond of dining out, and would have gone almost
to any gentleman’s house. Mr. Cooper had
been enough in the neighbourhood to have known the
old squire, and wrote an affectionate note expressing
his gratification at the prospect of renewing his
acquaintance with the little boy whom he remembered.
So the party was made up for Monday. John Morton
was very nervous on the matter, fearing that Lady
Augustus would think the land to be barren.
