“She is, indeed,” said Lawrence.

“I suppose you think she is the finest woman in the world?” said the old lady, with a genial grin.

“What makes you suppose so?” asked Lawrence.

“Haven’t I eyes?” said Mrs Keswick.  “But you needn’t make any excuses.  You have made an excellent choice, and I hope you may succeed in getting her.  Perhaps you have succeeded?” she added, giving Lawrence an earnest look, with a question in it.

Lawrence did not immediately reply.  It was not in his nature to confide his affairs to other people, and yet he had done so much of it, of late, that he did not see why he should make an exception against Mrs Keswick, who was, indeed, the only person who seemed inclined to be friendly to his suit.  He might as well let her know how matters stood.  “No,” he said, “I have not yet succeeded, and I am very sorry that this accident has interfered with my efforts to do so.”

“Don’t let it interfere,” said the old lady, her eyes sparkling, while her purple sun-bonnet was suddenly and severely bobbed.  “You have just as good a chance now as you ever had, and all you have to do is to make the most of it.  When she comes out here to read to you, you can talk to her just as well as if you were in the woods, or on top of a hill.  Nobody’ll come here to disturb you; I’ll take care of that.”

“You are very kind,” said Lawrence, somewhat wondering at her enthusiasm.

“I intended to go away and leave her here with you,” continued Mrs Keswick, “if I could find a good opportunity to do so, but she hit on the best plan herself.  And now I’ll be off and leave the coast clear.  I will come again before dark and put some more of that stuff on your ankle.  If you want anything, ring this bell, and if Isham doesn’t hear you, somebody will call him.  He has orders to keep about the house.”

“You are putting me under very great obligations to you, madam,” said Lawrence.

But the old lady did not stop to hear any thanks, and hastened to clear the coast.

Lawrence had to wait a long time for his list of books, but at last it came; and, much to his surprise and chagrin, Mrs Null brought it.  “Miss March asked me to give you this,” she said, “so that you can pick out just what books you want.”

Lawrence took the paper, but did not look at it.  He was deeply disappointed and hurt.  His whole appearance showed it.

“You don’t seem glad to get it,” said Miss Annie.  Lawrence looked at her, his face darkening.  “Did you persuade Miss March,” he said, “to stay in the house and let you bring this?”

“Now, Mr Croft,” said the young lady, a very decided flush coming into her face, “that is going too far.  You have no right to accuse me of such a thing.  I am not going to help in your love affairs, but I don’t intend to be mean about it, either.  Miss March asked me to bring that list, and at first I wouldn’t do it, for I knew, just as well as I know anything, that you expected her to come to you with it, and I was very sure you wanted to see her more than the paper.  I refused two or three times, but she said, at last, that if I didn’t take it, she’d send it by some one in the house; so I just picked it up and brought it right along.  I don’t like her as much as I did.”