Oh! he had it from the old cousin that he and Grand often talk of, old John Mortimer.

And that's where the old silver plate came from.

Of course, and where John got his name.
"We always knew, I think, that there was an aged mother; now why did I take for granted that she must be in her second childhood?
I wonder whether John put that into my head.

I think I did remark to him once when I was a boy and he was living at home, that it was odd there was no portrait of her in either of the houses.

(But no more there is of Grand now I come to think of it; John never could make him sit.) Before the dear old man got so infirm he used generally to go out about once a year and come back in low spirits, not liking to be questioned.