Soon after this he sold out and brought his wife home to Bragton.

It was at this period of the squire's life that the romance spoken of occurred.

John Morton, the brother with the aristocratic wife, was ten or twelve years older than Reginald, and at this time lived chiefly at Bragton when he was not in town.

He was, perhaps, justified in regarding Bragton as almost belonging to him, knowing as he did that it must belong to him after his father's lifetime, and to his son after him.
His anger against his brother was hot, and that of his wife still hotter.

He himself had squandered thousands, but then he was the heir.