Outside of other reasons, his mother had prayed him to do so almost with her last breath, and, living or dead, Morris loved his mother.
"Perhaps you are not aware," went on Colonel Monk, after a solemn pause, "that the affairs of this property are approaching a crisis." "I know something, but no details," answered Morris.

"I have not liked to interfere," he added apologetically.
"And I have not not liked to trouble you with such sordid matters," rejoined his parent, with sarcasm.

"I presume, however, that you are acquainted with the main facts.

I succeeded to this estate encumbered with a mortgage, created by your grandfather, an extravagant and unbusiness-like man.

That mortgage I looked to your mother's fortune to pay off, but other calls made this impossible.