Within twenty -four hours after the Richardses had received their cheques

their consciences were quieting down, discouraged; the old couple were

learning to reconcile themselves to the sin which they had committed.

But they were to learn, now, that a sin takes on new and real terrors

when there seems a chance that it is going to be found out. This gives

it a fresh and most substantial and important aspect.

1)  were learning to：这里的learn是学习，学会的意思，用进行时是表示：正慢慢学会的意思吗？

——既然 learn 有“学习”的意思，进行体表示“正在学”，为什么偏偏要理解为“正在学会”呢？“学会”是终止行为，是结果。你的逻辑去哪里了？

2)  they were to learn...这里的were to又应该如何理解呢？

——be to do ... 是含有情态意义表示将来的一种表达格式。可以理解为：

1. 计划学；2.打算学；3.要去学；4..应该学；5.必须学 等含义，可根据语境选择合适的语义。