"Cheer up, and take a glass of something warm before you go to bed.

Good night!" these were his parting words.
Long was the conference, and sleepless the couch, of Mr.and Mrs.
Morton.

At first that estimable lady positively declared she would not and could not visit Catherine (as to receiving her, that was out of the question).

But she secretly resolved to give up that point in order to insist with greater strength upon another-viz., the impossibility of Catherine remaining in the town; such concession for the purpose of resistance being a very common and sagacious policy with married ladies.
Accordingly, when suddenly, and with a good grace, Mrs.Morton appeared affected by her husband's eloquence, and said, "Well, poor thing! if she is so ill, and you wish it so much, I will call to-morrow," Mr.Morton felt his heart softened towards the many excellent reasons which his wife urged against allowing Catherine to reside in the town.

He was a political character--he had many enemies; the story of his seduced sister, now forgotten, would certainly be raked up; it would affect his comfort, perhaps his trade, certainly his eldest daughter, who was now thirteen; it would be impossible then to adopt the plan hitherto resolved upon--of passing off Sidney as the legitimate orphan of a distant relation; it would be made a great handle for gossip by Miss Pryinall.