“Very good,” said Junius, “now, what is it that you want me to say?”

This was not an easy question for Lawrence to answer.  He knew very well what he wanted to say, if he had a chance of saying it himself.  He wanted to pour his whole heart out to Roberta March, and, showing her its present passion, to ask her to forgive those days in which his mind only had appeared to be engaged.  He believed he could say things that would force from her the pardon of his previous short-comings, if she considered them as such.  She had been very gracious to him in time past, and he did not see why she should not be still more gracious now, if he could remove the feelings of resentment, which he believed were occasioned by her womanly insight into the motives of his conduct toward her, during those delightful summer days at Midbranch.

But to get another person to say all this was a very different thing.  He was sure, however, that if it were not said now, it would never be said.  It would be death to all his hopes if Miss March went away, feeling towards him as she now felt; therefore he stiffened his purpose which was quite used to being stiffened; hardened his sensibilities; and took his plunge.  Gazing steadfastly at the back of the fireplace while he spoke, he endeavored to make Junius Keswick understand the nature, and the probable force of the objections to his line of action as a suitor, which had grown up in the mind of Miss March; and he also endeavored to show how completely and absolutely he had been changed by the vigor and ardor of his present affection; and how he was entitled to be considered by Miss March as a lover who had but one thought and purpose, and that was to win her; and, as such, he asked her to give him an opportunity to renew his proposal to her.  “Now, then,” said Lawrence, “I have placed the case before you, and I beg you will present it, as nearly as possible, in the form in which I have given it to you.”

“Mr Croft,” said Junius, “this case of yours is worse than I thought it was.  What woman of spirit would accept a man who admitted, that during the whole of his acquaintance with her he had had his doubts in regard to suitability, etc., but who, when a crisis arrived, and another man turned up, had determined to overlook all his objections and take her, anyway.”

“That is a very cold-blooded way of putting it,” said Lawrence, “and I don’t believe at all that she will look upon it in that light.  If you will set the matter before her as I have put it to you, I believe she will see it as I wish her to see it.”

“Very well,” said Junius, rising, and taking out his watch, “I will make your statement as accurately as I can, and without any interpretations of my own.  And now I must bid you good-night.  I had no idea it was after twelve o’clock.”

“And you will observe her moods?” asked Lawrence.

“Yes,” said Junius as he opened the door, “I will carefully observe her moods.”