He need not have troubled himself in this regard, for he and Annie were not disturbed during the rest of that day by the appearance of Mrs Keswick; but after the letter had been duly considered and approved, he found it difficult to obtain a messenger.  There was no one on the place who would undertake to walk to Midbranch, and he could not take the liberty of using Mrs Keswick’s horse for the trip, so it was found necessary to wait until the morrow, when the letter could be taken to Howlett’s, where, if no one could be found to carry it immediately, it would have to be entrusted to the mail which went out the next day.  Lawrence, of course, knew nothing of Mrs Keswick’s message to Midbranch, or he would have been still more desirous that his letter should be promptly dispatched.

The evening was not a very pleasant one; the lovers did not know at what moment the old lady might descend upon them, and the element of unpleasant expectancy which pervaded the atmosphere of the house was somewhat depressing.  They talked a good deal of the probabilities of Mrs Keswick’s action.  Lawrence expected that she would order him away, although Annie had stoutly maintained that her aunt would have no right to do this, as he was not in a condition to travel.  This argument, however, made little impression upon Lawrence, who was not the man to stay in any house where he was not wanted; besides, he knew very well that for any one to stay in Mrs Keswick’s house when she did not want him, would be an impossibility.  But he did not intend to slip away in any cowardly manner, and leave Annie to bear alone the brunt of the second storm.  He felt sure that such a storm was impending, and he was also quite certain that its greatest violence would break upon him.  He would stay, therefore, and meet the old lady when she next descended upon them, and, before he went away, he would endeavor to utter some words in defence of himself and Annie.

They separated early, and a good deal of thinking was done by them before they went to sleep.

The next morning they had only each other for company at breakfast, but they had just risen from that meal when they were startled by the entrance of Mrs Keswick.  Having expected her appearance during the whole of the time they were eating, they had no reason to be startled by her coming now, but for their subsequent amazement at her appearance and demeanor, they had every reason in the world.  Her face was pale and grave, with an air of rigidity about it, which was not common to her, for, in general, she possessed a very mobile countenance.  Without speaking a word, she advanced towards Lawrence, and extended her hand to him.  He was so much surprised that while he took her hand in his he could only murmur some unintelligible form of morning salutation.  Then Mrs Keswick turned to Annie, and shook hands with her.  The young girl grew pale, but said not a word, but some tears came into her eyes, although why this happened she could not have explained to herself.  Having finished this little performance, the old lady walked to the back window, and looked out into the flower garden, although there was really nothing there to see.  Now Annie found voice to ask her aunt if she would not have some breakfast.