“You see, madam,” said Lawrence, well satisfied that he had succeeded in warding off the old lady’s offer without offending her, “that I do not want any one to go to Miss March and make a proposal for me.  I could do that in a letter.  But I very much object to a letter.  In fact it wouldn’t do at all.  All I wish is, that some one, by the exercise of a little female diplomacy, should induce her to let me speak to her.  Now, I think that Mrs Null might do this, very well.”

“That is so,” said the old lady, who, having now finished her bandaging, was seated on a chair by the fireplace.  “My niece is smart and quick, and could do this thing for you just as well as not.  But she has her quips and her cranks, like the rest of us.  I called her out of the room last night to know why she didn’t back me up better about the whist party, and she said she couldn’t see why a gentleman, who hadn’t been confined to the house for quite a whole day, should be so desperately lonely that people must go to his room to play whist with him.  It seemed to me exactly as if she thought that Mr Null wouldn’t like it.  Mr Null indeed!  As if his wishes and desires were to be considered in my house!  I never mention that man now, and Annie does not speak of him either.  What I want is that he shall stay away just as long as he will; and if he will only stay away long enough to make his absence what the law calls desertion, I’ll have those two divorced before they know it.  Can you tell me, sir, how long a man must stay away from his wife before he can be legally charged with desertion?”

“No, madam, I can not,” said Lawrence.  “The laws, I believe, differ in the various States.”

“Well, I’m going to make it my business to find out all about it,” said Mrs Keswick.  “Mr Brandon has promised to attend to this matter for me, and I must write to him, to know what he has been doing.  Well, Mrs Null and Miss March seem to be very good friends, and I dare say my niece could manage things so as to give you the chance you want.  I’ll go to the house now, and send her over to you, so that you can tell her what you want her to say or do.”

“Do you think she will come, madam?” asked Lawrence.

The old lady rose to her feet, and knitted her brows until something like a perpendicular mouth appeared on her forehead.  “No,” said she, “now I come to think of it I don’t believe she will.  In fact I know she won’t.  Bother take it all, sir!  What these young women want is a good whipping.  Nothing else will ever bring them to their senses.  What possible difference could it make to Mr Null whether she came to you and took a message for you, or whether she didn’t come; especially in a case like this, when you can’t walk, or go to anybody?”

“I don’t think it ought to make any difference whatever,” said Lawrence.  “In fact I don’t believe it would.”