=Mor´timer= (_Mr._), executor of Lord Abberville, and uncle of Frances Tyrrell. “He sheathed a soft heart in a rough case.” Externally, Mr. Mortimer seemed unsympathetic, brusque and rugged; but in reality he was most benevolent, delicate and tender-hearted. “He did a thousand noble acts without the credit of a single one.” In fact, his tongue belied his heart, and his heart his tongue.--Cumberland, _The Fashionable Lover_ (1780). _Mortimer_ (_Sir Edward_), a most benevolent man, oppressed with some secret sorrow. In fact, he knew himself to be a murderer. The case was this: Being in a county assembly, the uncle of Lady Helen insulted him, struck him down, and kicked him. Sir Edward rode home to send a challenge to the ruffian; but, meeting him on the road drunk, he murdered him, was tried for the crime, but was honorably acquitted. He wrote a statement of the case, and kept the papers connected with it in an iron chest. One day Wilford, his secretary, whose curiosity had been aroused, saw the chest unlocked, and was just about to take out the documents when Sir Edward entered, and threatened to shoot him; but he relented, made Wilford swear secrecy, and then told him the whole story. The young man, unable to live under the jealous eyes of Sir Edward, ran away; but Sir Edward dogged him, and at length arrested him on the charge of robbery. The charge broke down, Wilford was acquitted, Sir Edward confessed himself a murderer, and died.--G. Colman, _The Iron Chest_ (1796). =Mortimer Lightwood=, solicitor employed in the “Harmon murder” case. He was the great friend of Eugene Wrayburn, barrister-at-law, and it was the ambition of his life to imitate the _nonchalance_ and other eccentricities of his friend. At one time he was a great admirer of Bella Wilfer. Mr. Veneering called him “one of his oldest friends;” but Mortimer was never in the merchant’s house but once in his life, and resolved never to enter it again.--C. Dickens, _Our Mutual Friend_ (1864). =Morten= (_Sir_), a spectre who appears at King Olaf’s feast, in the guise of a one-eyed old man, and carouses with the guests until bed-time. When the morning breaks, he has departed, and no trace of him is to be found. “King Olaf crossed himself and said-- ‘I know that Odin the Great is dead; Sure is the triumph of our Faith, This one-eyed stranger was his wraith.’ Dead rides Sir Morten of Fogelsang.” H. W. Longfellow, _The Wraith of Odin_. =Morton=, a retainer of the earl of Northumberland.--Shakespeare, 2 _Henry IV._ (1508).[TN-25] _Morton_ (_Henry_), a leader in the covenanters’ army with Balfour. While abroad, he is Major-general Melville. Henry Morton marries Miss Edith Bellenden. _Old Ralph Morton of Milnwood_, uncle of Henry Morton. _Colonel Silas Morton of Milnwood_, father of Henry Morton.--Sir W. Scott, _Old Mortality_ (time, Charles II.).