Reginald, who was only a younger brother, had sold his commission.

And then he had done so much more than this! He had married a woman who was not a lady! John was clearly of opinion that at any rate the wife should not be admitted into Bragton House.
The old squire in those days was not a happy man; he had never been very strong-minded, but now he was strong enough to declare that his house-door should not be shut against a son of his,--or a son's wife, as long as she was honest.

Hereupon the Honourable Mrs.Morton took her departure, and was never seen at Bragton again in the old squire's time.

Reginald Morton came to the house, and soon afterwards another little Reginald was born at Bragton Park.

This happened as long ago as 1835, twenty years before the death of the old squire.
But there had been another child, a daughter, who had come between the two sons, still living in these days, who will become known to any reader who will have patience to follow these pages to the end.
She married, not very early in life, a certain Sir William Ushant, who was employed by his country in India and elsewhere, but who found, soon after his marriage, that the service of his country required that he should generally leave his wife at Bragton.