"Morton has seemed a little uneasy lately.
But there don't seem to be any reason why he should have picked you out to jump on.

You never did anything to Morton." "Yes," said Sylvia, smiling; "I laughed at him once! I laughed at him about the way he had treated Mr.Thatcher.We stopped right there, with the laugh; he laughed too, you know.

And he took that up again at the party--and I had to explain what my laugh meant." "Oh, you explained it, did you ?" And Sylvia recounted the interview.
"I guess Morton hasn't been laughed at much, and that was why he remembered it and wanted to talk to you again.

I suspect that Hallie scolds him when she doesn't pet him.

Most folks are afraid of Morton; that's why he could take care of that corporation bill with the 'Advertiser' jumping him the way it did.