Certain lands not lying either in Bragton or Mallingham were sold, and that difficulty was surmounted, not without a considerable diminution of income.

In process of time the grandson, who was a second John Morton, grew up and married, and became the father of a third John Morton, the young man who afterwards became owner of the property and Secretary of Legation at Washington.

But the old squire outlived his son and his grandson, and when he died had three or four great-grandchildren playing about the lawns of Bragton Park.
The peer's daughter had lived, and had for many years drawn a dower from the Bragton property, and had been altogether a very heavy incumbrance.
But the great trial of the old man's life, as also the great romance, had arisen from the career of his second son, Reginald.

Of all his children, Reginald had been the dearest to him.

He went to Oxford, and had there spent much money; not as young men now spend money, but still to an extent that had been grievous to the old squire.