But the next morning Lawrence arose very late.  His coffee had evidently been warmed over, and his bacon had been cooked for a long, long time.  The world did not appear to him in a favorable light, and he was obliged to smoke two cigars before he was at all satisfied with it.  While he was smoking he did a good deal of thinking, and it was then that he came to the conclusion that he would not go over to Midbranch and propose to Roberta March.  Such precipitate action would be unjust to himself and unjust to her.  In her eyes it would probably appear to be the act of a man who had been suddenly spurred to action by the sight of a rival, and this, if Roberta was the woman he believed her to be, would prejudice her against him.  And yet he knew very well that these reasons would avail nothing if he should see her as he intended.  He had found that he was much more in love with her than he had supposed, and he felt positively certain that the next time he was alone with her he would declare his passion.

Another thing that he felt he should consider was that the presence of Keswick, if looked upon with a philosophic eye, was not a reason for immediate action.  If the old engagement had positively been broken off, he was at the house merely as a family friend; while, on the other hand, if the rupture had not been absolute, and if Roberta really loved this tall Southerner and wished to marry him, there was a feeling of honor about Lawrence which forbade him to interfere at this moment.  When she came to New York he would find out how matters really stood, and then he would determine on his own action.

And yet he would have proposed to Roberta that moment if he had had the opportunity.  Her personal presence would have banished philosophy, and even honor.

Lawrence was a long time in coming to these conclusions, and it was late in the afternoon when he despatched his note.  Having now given up his North Carolina trip—­one object of which had been still another visit to Midbranch on his return—­he was obliged to wait until the next day for a train to the North; and, consequently, he had another evening to devote to reflections.  These, after a time, became unsatisfactory.  He had told the exact truth in his note to Roberta, for he felt that it was necessary for him to leave that part of the country in order to make impossible an interview for which he believed the proper time had not arrived.  He was consulting his best interests, and also, no doubt, those of the lady.  And yet, in spite of this reasoning, he was not satisfied with himself.  He felt that his note was not entirely honest and true.  There was subterfuge about it, and something of duplicity.  This he believed was foreign to his nature, and he did not like it.

Lawrence had scarcely finished his breakfast the next morning when Mr Junius Keswick arrived at the door of his cottage.  This gentleman had walked over from Midbranch and was a little dusty about his boots and the lower part of his trousers.  Lawrence greeted him politely, but was unable to restrain a slight indication of surprise.  It being more pleasant on the porch than in the house, Mr Croft invited his visitor to take a seat there, and the latter very kindly accepted the cigar which was offered him, although he would have preferred the pipe he had in his pocket.