But his family were very proud, and they quarrelled with
him because he married me; and then we became very poor,
and Reginald went for a soldier, and--; but I forget the
rest, it is so long ago." She pressed her hand to her
brow, and sank her head upon her chest.
"Ellen, woman, again I ask you where he came from? this
Reginald Morton that you have named. To what county did
he belong?"
"Oh, we were both Cornish," she answered, with a vivacity
singularly in contrast with her recent low and monotonous
tone; "but, as I said before, he was of a great family,
and I only a poor clergyman's daughter."
"Cornish!--Cornish, did you say?" fiercely repeated the
dark Wacousta, while an expression of loathing and disgust
seemed for a moment to convulse his features; "then is
it as I had feared. One word more. Was the family seat
called Morton Castle?"
"It was," unhesitatingly returned the poor woman, yet
with the air of one wondering to hear a name repeated,
long forgotten even by herself. "It was a beautiful castle
too, on a lovely ridge of hills; and it commanded such
a nice view of the sea, close to the little port of -----;
and the parsonage stood in such a sweet valley, close
under the castle; and we were all so happy.
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